Regional Strategy for a Just and Inclusive Transition to Net-Zero Cooking: Rethinking Approaches to Drive Transformative Change in Central America and the Dominican Republic

Project proposal for scaling and implementation

The need for clean cooking in the SICA region

In the Central American Integration System (SICA) region—comprising Central America and the Dominican Republic— one in four people still rely on polluting fuels and technologies for cooking [1], with PM2.5 concentrations reaching up to 1000 µg/m3. This proportion rises to one in two people in Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, and up to 90% in rural areas. As a result, rural and indigenous communities, especially women and children, are disproportionately exposed to harmful air pollutants, as women are traditionally responsible for cooking and collecting firewood, while both women and children spend long hours indoors [2].

Health & Environmental Impacts

Burning polluting fuels in inefficient stoves or open fires:

Releases toxic pollutants such as fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅), black carbon, carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which pose severe health risks such as heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, lower respiratory infections, premature birth, and cataracts [2]. PM2.5 alone causes 18,000 deaths annually in the SICA region. This is one of the most critical environmental health risks.
Increases safety hazards like burns, poisoning, and musculoskeletal injuries, as well as theft and insecurity related to fuel collection.
Reduces quality of life by restricting time for income-generating activities, education, leisure and rest. Women spend 1-3 extra hours daily cooking with traditional stoves.
Leads to environmental damage – The residential sector contributes to 50% of the region’s black carbon emissions, worsening air pollution and climate change [3].

Moving Towards Clean Cooking

While improved biomass stoves offer some benefits, they do not guarantee safe indoor air quality and continue to emit harmful pollutants like black carbon [4]. The rapid transition from polluting fuels to clean cooking presents one of the most effective strategies for mitigating black carbon.

Recognizing this urgent challenge, the Integrated Roadmap on Climate Change, Air Quality, and Health for the SICA Region (2022) prioritizes clean energy solutions for cooking. This aligns with the Global Roadmap for a Just and Inclusive Transition to Clean Cooking aiming for universal access to clean cooking and net-zero emissions by 2050. It also seeks to accelerate the transition to Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) and decarbonize cooking fuels by 2040. The roadmap further recommends that governments increase access to clean stoves and fuels through targeted subsidies, conditional cash transfers, and other incentives, as well as cover additional costs such as behavior change programs, awareness campaigns, and technical assistance.

Understanding gender roles and dynamics [5, 1]

Gender Gap in Economic Participation:

Impact of Domestic and Care Work:

Poverty and Gender Inequities:

Pollution and Cooking Practices:

Time Burden of Cooking with Polluting Fuels:

Women in the SICA region face significant challenges in economic participation and political empowerment. Despite having higher educational attainment, women are underrepresented in the workforce, with a 38.5% participation rate in 2015. Economic participation is higher in urban areas (48.2-53%) compared to rural areas (31.8-42.8%).

Women bear a disproportionate burden of unpaid domestic and caregiving work, particularly in rural areas, spending 2.5 times more time on household tasks than men. 37% to 56% of women in rural areas are exclusively dedicated to these tasks.

Poverty disproportionately affects women, especially those with lower educational levels.

In countries like Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, up to 50% of households rely on polluting cooking fuels. Women, as primary cooks, are more exposed to household air pollution, impacting their health and well-being.

Women spend an extra 2 hours per day cooking with firewood compared to clean fuels. In rural Guatemala, women spend 16 hours weekly making tortillas and up to 5.5 additional hours collecting and preparing firewood.

These gender dynamics underscore the need to prioritize women’s economic empowerment, health, and time-saving in the project objectives.

Proven success in Guatemala

Taken from the study by Troncoso et al., 2024 (pending publication):

In 2022, a successful pilot project in two communities in Guatemala demonstrated the effectiveness of transitioning from biomass to electric cooking, when paired with culturally appropriate technologies that respect traditional food preparation methods. The intervention provided electric cooking appliances (electric pressure cookers, one-pot induction stoves) as well as tortillas from local vendors, reducing firewood dependence.

The project was supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) with funding from the Climate Investment Funds and the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) program, which is funded by UK Aid (FCDO).

Key highlights

Tortillas and beans are central to Guatemalan cuisine and require significant time and energy to prepare, which leads women to continue using firewood. Addressing the preparation of these staples is essential for reducing firewood dependence.

Adoption Rates: 87.5% adoption rate of electricity for cooking, with 100% of meals cooked with electric alternatives when house-made tortillas were replaced.

Gender Role Shift: In 20% of households, men took on cooking responsibilities, representing a notable shift in traditional gender dynamics, and alleviating the time burden on women.

The project decreased firewood reliance by offering locally purchased tortillas, a key staple in Guatemalan cuisine, saving women over 16 hours of time per week, and provided an electric pressure cooker for preparing beans.

Time Savings: Women saved an average of 2.9 hours daily, which was used for income-generating activities, education, family care, or rest.

Cost Savings: Participants spent less on electricity than on firewood for cooking.

Replicability: The project demonstrated potential for expanding electric cooking in Guatemala and similar regions, though financing mechanisms remain crucial (e.g., installment payments).

Follow-up survey (18 months post-project)

100% of households continued using the induction stove, and 80% continued using the electric pressure cooker, with exceptions only due to appliance malfunctions.

72% of users no longer use firewood daily, except for special events (e.g., weddings, festive gatherings).

A "clean stack" phenomenon was observed, where electric cooking technology replaced firewood for daily cooking.

92% of users continued purchasing tortillas due to time savings, costs and convenience.

35% of the women used saved time for productive activities. This was identified as a major factor in technology adoption, dramatically improving women’s quality of life and increasing income and opportunities for work and study.

Clean Air Institute_Mujeres tortilleras.jpg

Scaling up Guatemala´s success

Project proposal

Goal: To contribute to universal clean cooking access and net-zero emissions by 2050 in the SICA region's residential energy sector.

Main Activities:

Develop a Just and Inclusive Transition Strategy: Create and secure endorsement for a regional strategy to achieve net-zero cooking, ensuring equitable access and identifying sustainable financing mechanisms.

Expand Electric Cooking in Guatemala: Scale up electric cooking adoption in one community by offering women affordable monthly installments for electric pressure cookers, induction stoves, and electric kettles.

Replicate Guatemalan success in two other SICA countries. Provide clean cooking sets for free to selected households and tortilla businesses in two additional SICA countries. At the project’s conclusion, establish a financing mechanism to support continued adoption and scale-up within these communities.

Replicate Success in Two Additional SICA Countries: Distribute clean cooking sets at no cost to households and tortilla businesses in two additional countries, while establishing a financing mechanism to support continued adoption and scalability after the intervention.

Communicate Results & Lessons Learned: Share key insights and best practices through events, videos, and outreach materials.

Project details

Impact assessment and benefits:

Surveys, focus groups, electric bill data, and air quality (PM₂.₅) monitoring will assess changes in gender roles, time savings, perception on health impacts, emission and exposure reduction, and the effectiveness of financing schemes.

A Participatory Approach

The project will be implemented in collaboration with local authorities and communities to ensure long-term success.

Mid-term goals: Implement and monitor the regional strategy for a just and inclusive transition to clean cooking, ensuring scalability within targeted countries and expanding efforts across the region.

Project partners: Clean Air Institute; the Central American Integration System (SICA), particularly, the Council of Ministers of Health (COMISCA), the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD); and eight member states (Central America and Dominican Republic); with support from Pan American Health Organization (PAHO); and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Project status: Searching for funding, ready for implementation.

Funding needed: $227,000 USD.

Confirmed co-funding: $87,800 USD from project partners.

Contact information: Stephanie Montero, Air Quality and Health Expert, and Juliana Klakamp, CEO, Clean Air Institute; Julia Monterrosa, Air Quality Expert, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, El Salvador.

Email: Info@cleanairinstitute.org

Phone Number: +52 (777) 565-5671.

Why invest and collaborate in this project?

Gender-Inclusive & People-Centered – Empowers women by reducing unpaid labor, improving well-being, with a focus on financial accessibility for clean cooking.

Scalable & Replicable – Introduces a revolving fund model to eliminate upfront costs and ensure long-term adoption.

Policy-Aligned & High Impact: Supports climate, health, and gender policies while reducing air pollution, mitigating SLCP pollutants, and advancing six SDGs (No Poverty, Health, Gender Equality, Affordable and Clean Energy, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Climate Action).

Multi-Sector Collaboration – Engages health, environment, economy, and gender sectors for a comprehensive approach.

A Direct Leap to Electricity – Skipping gas, as much as possible, the project transitions directly from firewood to clean electric cooking for a sustainable future.

Photographs courtesy of Karin Troncoso

Additional resources

Downloadable summary poster

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Clean cooking is more than health—it’s about dignity, equity, sustainability, and a better future. The time to act is now!