A Stronger Nepal

More than 50 percent of households in Nepal still rely on solid biomass fuels such as firewood, agricultural residues, and animal dung for cooking, often using inefficient traditional stoves. This causes high levels of household air pollution, leading to an estimated 22,000 premature deaths annually, particularly among women and children. It also accelerates deforestation, increases greenhouse gas emissions, and places time and financial burdens on rural households, reinforcing poverty and gender inequality.

Although the Government of Nepal has committed to expanding clean cooking solutions by 2030, adoption remains slow in rural and semi-urban areas due to low awareness, affordability barriers, limited decision-making power among women, and weak supply chains.

In response, Practical Action is implementing a market-based approach to accelerate clean cooking adoption in Nepal. The Transforming the Cookstove Market (TTCM) project supports 75,000 households in Lumbini and Sudurpaschim Provinces to adopt less polluting and improved Tier-3 cookstoves. We are doing this by improving access, strengthening supply chains, and supporting distributors and manufacturers to expand their reach in remote communities.

By promoting sustained use of clean cookstoves over time, the project supports improved health, reduced environmental impact, and more resilient livelihoods for rural households.

Barriers to clean cooking in Nepal

In Nepal, reliance on traditional biomass fuels remains widespread, particularly in rural areas. While these fuels are often locally available, their use in inefficient stoves leads to significant health, environmental, and economic impacts. Indoor air pollution continues to be a major public health issue, and the demand for firewood contributes to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.

Access to cleaner cooking technologies remains uneven. Although national policies promote improved cookstoves and electric cooking, many households face barriers to adoption. These include limited awareness of available options, upfront costs, and restricted access to suppliers in remote areas. Women, who are primarily responsible for cooking, often have limited influence over household purchasing decisions, further slowing uptake.

At the same time, gaps in the supply chain limit the availability and reliability of clean cookstoves. Distributors and retailers often lack the capacity to reach last-mile communities, while after-sales services and maintenance systems are not always in place. Addressing these interconnected challenges is essential to enable wider adoption and ensure long-term use of clean cooking technologies.

Making clean cooking possible, one cookstove and household at a time

The TTCM project focuses on increasing access to clean cookstoves and sustaining their use by stimulating both demand and supply.

On the demand side, the project raises awareness of the health, environmental, and economic benefits of clean cooking through community engagement, demonstrations, and collaboration with local groups. It also improves affordability by supporting households to make use of available incentives when purchasing a stove.

On the supply side, the project is working with manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to strengthen the cookstove market. This includes building the capacity of last-mile distributors, supporting marketing and distribution networks, and improving the availability of spare parts and after-sales services.

The project also supports post-purchase engagement to encourage continued use and address challenges faced by households. Through these combined efforts, it aims to create a more accessible, reliable, and sustainable market for clean cooking solutions.