The government is taking steps towards supporting 500,000 families with energy-efficient cook stoves at subsidised prices to encourage eco-friendly lifestyles. The Clean Cooking Result Based Financing (CC-RBF) project is being implemented by the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) and Energy Development Corporation Limited (EDCL), under the World Bank's fund of $20 million.

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The move aims to reduce the number of families relying on firewood for cooking from 79% in 2017 to 42% by 2024. The EDCL reports that more than 50,000 households have received improved cook stoves since the program's launch in 2021, running until 2026.

The initiative is expected to help families save money for other basic needs, such as school fees, and reduce deforestation rates. Emmanuel Ngendambizi, a resident of Gasabo District, used to spend a lot of money on charcoal, but with the improved cook stove, life has changed. Cooking has become even cheaper and cleaner for households in rural areas who used to depend on firewood. Prices for cooking stoves are subsidised at 90%, 70%, and 45% for Ubudehe categories 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

Official data from the Ministry of Environment in 2021 shows that 72% of charcoal is consumed nationwide, with at least 61,000 sacks of charcoal weekly supplied to Kigali City. At least 380 hectares of forest are felled every week for charcoal production and firewood, according to the ministry.

The initiative is a significant contribution to the global targets for tackling climate change and reducing the number of trees that are cut prematurely, said Oreste Niyonsaba, the Manager of Social Energies at EDCL.