Country: Botswana

The project was commissioned under “Just Energy Transition: Accelerating Access to Clean Energy in Botswana (JET Access)” program to address Botswana’s heavy reliance on traditional biomass fuels such as firewood and charcoal, which continue to dominate cooking practices, particularly in rural areas. This dependence has led to deforestation, household air pollution, and significant social impacts, as women and children bear the brunt of fuel collection, often at the expense of education and economic opportunities. Although alternatives such as LPG, electricity, and biogas exist, their uptake has been minimal due to limited awareness, affordability barriers, and weak policy support. Against this backdrop, UNIDO initiated the development of a national Clean Cooking Roadmap and a Behaviour Change Communication Strategy to guide the transition toward modern, sustainable cooking solutions.

Description of activities performed:

– Collection and analysis of demographic, socio-economic, and energy use data, building on the National Energy Use Survey (NEUS 2022/23).
– Household and SME surveys to assess cooking practices, fuel expenditure, appliance use, and affordability.
– Value chain analysis covering fuel supply, appliance availability, distribution channels, financing mechanisms, and after-sales services.
– Review of policy and regulatory frameworks relevant to clean cooking, including fiscal measures, quality standards, and institutional mandates.
– Identification of clean cooking technologies and fuels (e.g., LPG, ethanol, biogas, pellets, electricity) suited to Botswana’s context.
– Assessment of market potential and opportunities for private sector engagement, job creation, and carbon finance.
– Preparation of the Clean Cooking Roadmap, validated through multi-stakeholder consultations and workshops.
– Development of a gender-sensitive Behaviour Change Communication Strategy to drive awareness, adoption, and behavioural shifts.


Duration: 08/2025-04/2026