Clean energy innovations at Kakuma boosts opportunities
Access to clean cooking remains challenging in refugee camps and low-income communities where traditional cooking contributes to environmental and health risks.
Access to clean cooking solutions remains challenging in many refugee camps and low-income communities, where traditional cooking methods contribute to environmental degradation, economic hardships, and health risks. SNV’s Humanitarian Market-Based Energy Access (MBEA) project, funded by Energising Development (EnDev), is working to address this challenge by fostering inclusive energy markets in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement, and the surrounding host communities.
At the heart of this transformation is the local production of improved cookstoves (ICS), which offer safer, cleaner alternatives to traditional methods. Sunken Limited, a key partner in this project, has been producing Improved energy-saving stoves since 2018 through its Stove Production Unit (SPU) in Kakuma. This SPU not only utilizes local raw materials but also provides employment opportunities to local residents, making the stoves more affordable for low-income families.
The SPU now employs 16 staff members and supports over 114 vendors, including 69 men and 49 women, serving over 300,000 people across Kakuma and Kalobeyei. One such case is of Areymo Jane, a Kakuma resident who joined the SPU in 2019. Initially trained as an artisan in clay lining, she later taught herself iron fabrication, becoming the first woman to specialise in the craft at the SPU. Her determination and skill have transformed her life. 'People look down on this job,' Jane says, 'but it has given me the ability to support my family, pay school fees, and handle hospital bills. I now have financial independence and can even access credit.' She encourages other women in the community to join her, stating, 'It’s not about the job itself, but what you can achieve from it.'
Jane fabricating a cook stove at Sunken SPU.
This story underscores the impact of local innovation on transforming energy access and economic opportunities in refugee and low-income settings. Through strategic partnerships, community engagement, and capacity building, the SPU in Kakuma not only meets the demand for clean cooking solutions but fosters local economic development. SNV’s clean energy initiatives are thus transforming lives across the region.