The report indicates how to move forward to expand the uptake of cleaner, healthier cooking technologies by mobilizing various sources of public and private capital, engaging with the private sector, adopting context-appropriate business models, and leveraging support from the UN and its partners.

The report notes that the uptake of such higher-tier (Tier 4+) clean cooking solutions is a critical but often underfunded and insufficiently prioritized need.

The widespread adoption of cleaner cooking solutions remains a challenge due to barriers that include upfront costs and low awareness among end-users about potential benefits. At the same time, the decreasing cost of solar PV modules, and the increasing affordability of PV-supported clean cookstoves and appliances, have made that specific category of technologies more financially viable and cost competitive. These viable technologies include pure electric cooking (eCooking) powered by photovoltaic systems (solar PV), PV-supported biomass gasifier stoves and ethanol stoves.

The report draws on real-world examples to showcase ways that it is possible for technologies to overcome existing barriers, particularly in “last mile communities” – those that are off grid or marginalized in national energy and climate change policy and investment planning. Such communities include informal settlements, peri-urban areas and settings that are the home of long-term displaced populations. Many people living in these settings rely on very basic cooking fuels, such as firewood and charcoal.

The report concludes that to overcome barriers that hinder uptake will require supply- and demand-side interventions. Among these are affordable financing for viable business models that can help facilitate household adoption of clean cooking technologies through scalable, market-based approaches.