Changu Changu

Project: ‘Improved Cook Stoves in Malawi’

The World Health Organisation estimates that over 3 billion people in low- and middle-income countries rely on energy-inefficient solid fuels, leading to regional deforestation and huge emissions of greenhouse gases. This project helps transition rural households in Malawi from traditional three-stone cooking fires to energy-efficient cookstoves or “changu changu motos”. Traditional three-stone fires not only pollute the environment, but the smoke from these also pose serious health risks related to lung cancer and childhood pneumonia. Additionally, the burden of work associated with collecting wood to prepare the fire largely falls on the shoulders of women. This project helps transition rural households in Malawi from traditional three-stone cooking fires to energy-efficient cookstoves or “changu changu motos”. This switch saves women roughly 10 hours per week collecting firewood and roughly 2.5 tonnes of carbon emissions per year. The Changu Changu Moto cookstoves are low-tech and easily built from locally available materials such as mud brick.