Tanzania launches nationwide campaign to promote clean cooking practices

Dodoma.The Government of Tanzania, in partnership with international development agencies, has launched a decade-long National Clean Cooking Communications Strategy and Awareness Campaign aimed at transforming how Tanzanians cook—placing health, sustainability, and access to clean energy at the centre of household and community life.

The campaign, officially launched in Dodoma, represents a major step toward achieving the country’s ambitious goal of ensuring 80 percent of Tanzanians adopt clean cooking solutions by 2034, in line with the National Clean Cooking Strategy 2024–2034.

Presiding over the launch, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dotto Mashaka Biteko, stressed that awareness is the bedrock of national adoption.

“Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan has placed clean cooking at the heart of our national development agenda. This campaign is more than just messaging—it is a call to action. Without awareness, there can be no adoption. We must reach every Tanzanian, from urban centres to remote villages,” said Mr Biteko.

The campaign will be rolled out in phases, starting with national media outreach, followed by community-based engagement, school programmes, and product demonstrations. “We aim to create an environment where information leads to behaviour change, and behaviour change generates demand,” Biteko added.

More than 250 participants—including senior government officials, local government leaders, development partners, SMEs, academia, and civil society—gathered to witness the launch. The strategy takes a multi-pronged approach, combining radio, TV, newspapers, roadshows, school initiatives, social media, SMS campaigns, and digital apps to reach diverse audiences. It will also enlist the support of local influencers, religious figures, and grassroots institutions to strengthen message delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Mr. Lamine Diallo, Head of the Natural Resources Unit, emphasized the EU’s support for inclusive access to clean energy.

“Awareness is not a luxury—it is fundamental to transformation. We are proud to stand with Tanzania in ensuring that families across all income levels and geographies understand the health, economic, and environmental value of clean cooking. Access and education must go hand-in-hand,” Diallo said.

Mr. Imanuel Muro, Senior Finance Specialist at the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), highlighted that the strategy goes beyond communication—it is a market enabler.

“This is about empowering people to make informed decisions. The campaign will also support clean cooking entrepreneurs, strengthen supply chains, and create new economic opportunities. Its success will be seen not just in awareness, but in better livelihoods and healthier homes,” said Muro.

The campaign complements broader government efforts to expand access to clean energy, including subsidised LPG gas cylinders, improved cookstoves, and the promotion of electric cooking appliances in rural and urban households.

As the campaign begins its rollout, the government and its partners—including the EU, UNCDF, and other stakeholders—are calling on the public, private sector, and civil society to join forces.

“This is a shared journey toward a greener, healthier, and more equitable Tanzania,” said Biteko.

The National Clean Cooking Communications Strategy is positioned not only as a tool for raising awareness but as a catalyst for systemic change—ensuring that no household is left behind in the transition to safe, modern energy.