HIGHLIGHTS
- Can we increase adoption of and access to advanced cook stoves?
- Abt engaged stakeholders to address profitability across the value chain.
- We helped advanced stove players find opportunities to expand the market and usage.
The Challenge
Use of advanced cook stoves is one of the primary means to reduce indoor air pollution. Advanced clean cooking devices are designed to reduce smoke emissions and save fuel through better combustion.
Abt Global implemented the Market-based Partnerships for Health (MBPH) Advanced Cook Stove initiative for USAID India. As part of the initiative, Abt and USAID India worked in partnership with key stakeholders, including the government of India, cook stove manufacturers, micro-finance institutions, rural distribution networks, scientists, and sector experts towards a common vision of increasing adoption of and access to these advanced stoves.
The Approach
A key component of the initiative included implementing a pilot to address key barriers across various value chain elements. The pilot model was developed with an understanding that a single entity – such as a manufacturer, distributor, or financier – will not be able to operate profitably across the value chain. Accordingly, the model developed and allocated the functions of product manufacturing, distribution and financing amongst the advanced stove manufacturer, the rural distribution network and the MFI, with the responsibility for market building shared between the three. The pilot was implemented in 100 villages in two districts of Central Uttar Pradesh and 50 villages in two districts of Uttarakhand.
In addition to piloting the introduction of advanced stoves, MBPH examined national and state level policies and tax structures to recommend a structure that would best support expansion of their use. The initiative also examined options for accessing climate finance and recommended the development of a program of action for registration of carbon credits under the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism.
The Results
Through this work, MBPH provided small advanced stove players with the scope and opportunity to strategically reach new markets with large sales potential. It also provided stakeholders with an in-depth understanding of consumer behavior with respect to advanced stoves, offered insights into workable distribution models, laid out potential consumer financing options, and offered ways to establish an enabling regulatory environment for enhanced private sector participation in the advanced stove industry.