Tanzania steps up drive toward clean cooking with launch of national eCooking campaign

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has taken a major step toward transforming how millions of its citizens prepare daily meals, with the launch of the country’s first-ever National eCooking Awareness Campaign.

The initiative, unveiled on June 13, 2025, seeks to accelerate the shift from traditional biomass fuels such as firewood and charcoal to modern, electric cooking solutions.

The campaign is a joint effort between the Ministry of Energy, the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme, and UK International Development. It forms part of the wider UKAid-supported MECS eCooking Scale and Support Programme and is designed to support the ambitious goals outlined in the country’s recently launched National Clean Cooking Strategy (2024–2034). That strategy aims to achieve 80 percent clean cooking adoption across Tanzania by the year 2034.

Through the campaign, government and development partners are targeting 80 percent of urban and peri-urban Tanzanians with information and outreach activities by November 2025. The aim is not only to raise awareness of the benefits of electric cooking—convenience, safety, affordability, and environmental sustainability—but to foster lasting behavior change.

Speaking at the launch event, Ms Angellah Kairuki, Special Advisor to the President on Clean Cooking and Community Development, emphasized that clean cooking is a national priority that goes beyond energy reform.

“Tanzania’s transition to clean cooking is not merely an energy issue,” she said. “It sits at the intersection of public health, environmental protection, economic empowerment, and gender equity. For decades, our communities have borne the burden of traveling long distances for firewood and charcoal. This has exposed them to respiratory illness, contributed to deforestation, and reinforced cycles of poverty. With this national campaign, we are taking a bold step toward giving every household—especially women and children—a healthier and more dignified life.”

Her sentiments were echoed by Dr Anna Clements, the MECS Programme’s Lead Researcher for Tanzania, who noted that technological advancement must be balanced with cultural relevance.

“We’re excited to support Tanzania as it explores new ways of cooking that offer more convenience and cleaner alternatives, while still respecting familiar traditions,” she said. “As electricity becomes more accessible and appliances more intuitive, modern cooking methods can be adopted more naturally by households across the country.”

From an international perspective, the campaign is also seen as an essential contribution to broader global goals around climate change, gender equality, and sustainable development. UK High Commissioner to Tanzania, Marianne Young, praised the country’s commitment and called on stakeholders to rally behind the effort.

“This campaign marks an important moment for Tanzania’s energy and health goals,” she said. “It encourages people to consider how small shifts in cooking habits can bring big improvements—not necessarily by changing what they cook, but by offering options that are better for their families and the environment. We invite everyone—communities, the media, and development partners—to join in spreading awareness and supporting this positive transition.”

The rollout of the campaign will begin in Dar es Salaam before expanding to other urban centres. Using a city-based activation model, it will feature public cooking demonstrations, community engagement events, collaboration with local champions, and targeted media campaigns. Organisers hope this hands-on approach will help demystify eCooking technologies and reinforce their benefits in terms of safety, cost savings, and ease of use.

The campaign also comes at a time when Tanzania is making major strides in expanding its electricity network, a prerequisite for widespread eCooking adoption. With this new effort, authorities are laying the foundation for a future where cleaner, safer, and more modern kitchens are a reality for millions.

The National eCooking Awareness Campaign is not just about upgrading appliances—it’s about shifting mindsets, empowering communities, and redefining what’s possible in the everyday act of cooking.

As Tanzania embraces the possibilities of a cleaner future, this initiative stands as a powerful example of what can happen when government, research institutions, and international partners work together toward shared goals.