Project Overview (Tanzania)

Clean Cooking in Tanzania 

In Tanzania, about 43% of the population lives below the international poverty line of $2.15 per day, with many rural families relying on biomass fuels for cooking. Around 68% of households use firewood and 25% use charcoal, exposing families to harmful smoke and straining limited household budgets. 

Indoor air pollution from traditional cooking methods contributes to respiratory illnesses, especially among women and children. Meanwhile, unsustainable charcoal and firewood collection drive deforestation, with Tanzania losing nearly 470,000 hectares of forest annually. 

Tanzania’s forests include the vast miombo woodlands, covering over 40% of the country. These woodlands are critical for biodiversity, carbon storage, and support rural livelihoods. The ancient forests of the Eastern Arc Mountains are recognized globally for their unique species and ecological value. Other important areas include the forests around Selous Game Reserve and Gombe Stream National Park. However, these vital ecosystems are under threat from fuelwood harvesting, agriculture, and illegal logging. 

Our Impact with the Jikokoa Stove 

BURN’s Jikokoa stove is transforming lives and protecting forests by: 

• Reducing charcoal and firewood use  
• Cutting smoke emissions  
• Helping households save  
• Reducing pressure on critical forest ecosystems 

Cleaner air and lower fuel costs give families more time and resources to pursue education, work, and family care, especially benefiting women. By scaling clean cooking, we help protect Tanzania’s unique forests, improve public health, and generate verified carbon reductions.