The Rivanna/CPAR Partnership: Energy Saving Stoves Program

Women and girls in many parts of the developing world spend hours every day searching for firewood to fuel household stoves. This chore detracts from the women’s ability to earn income and can prevent girls from attending school. In Karatu District, Tanzania, CPAR is training women to constuct energy-saving "Mkombozi," stoves made of clay.

The traditional three-stone fireplace requires a great deal of fuel, wastes heat, produces damaging smoke, and causes accidental burns.  CPAR Tanzania is now training women to make energy-conserving stoves from locally available materials, using relatively few tools. The new stoves require about one-third the firewood of the traditional models and inflict fewer safety and health hazards on households.

Several women have been trained as “trainers” and can now assist other women in learning to make and maintain the new stoves, offering new possibilities for income and trade. Less fuel used means fewer deforestation effects, such as soil erosion and land degradation. Popularity of the energy-conserving stoves is growing, and CPAR Tanzania is in the process of training more women. One of the goals of the Rivanna/CPAR Partnership is to provide funding for "train the trainer" events.

Through its partnership with CPAR, Rivanna contributes directly to this program. Every Jiko Plaque you purchase buys 1 energy-conserving stove for a household in Karatu District.