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Cycle 7 (2018 Deadline)
Adoption and scale-up of charcoal alternatives in Zambia
PI: Francis Yamba (ceeez2015@gmail.com), Centre for Energy, Environment and Engineering Zambia (CEEEZ)
U.S. Partner: Robert Bailis, Stockholm Environment Institute – U.S. Center
Dates: November 2018 - February 2022
Project Overview
Charcoal is a highly complex socio-environmental issue throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Charcoal production and use is frequently associated with climate change, environmental degradation, adverse health outcomes, and poverty. Strategies to mitigate reliance on charcoal as the dominant cooking fuel are urgently needed, particularly in areas where urban populations are growing and inefficient production systems are putting pressure on atmospheric and terrestrial systems. Zambia presents a critical case for understanding the supply and demand dynamics of charcoal and strategies for mitigating associated negative externalities. This project examined the potential of a dual-pronged approach to develop technical and social alternatives to charcoal in Zambia: improved charcoal production and alternative fuels and stoves.
For any alternative stove or fuel to have an impact it must be not only acquired but also used in a way that reduces charcoal use. This study aimed to determine if this reduction occurs and whether it can be sustained and scaled up. By working closely with stove/fuel developers, distributors, and users, this project team identified factors that might be changed to enhance access to clean energy and reduce charcoal consumption. With multiple U.S. partners involved in several different regional collaborations, and primarily in partnership with the Stockholm Environmental Institute’s Africa Center, an influential regional think-tank, this research project relied on linkages throughout Southern and East Africa. These ties fostered cooperation and knowledge exchange well beyond Zambia, offering many opportunities to share experiences and lessons through workshops, conferences, and one-on-one meetings with high-level policy makers in Zambia and throughout the region. Other potential impacts are expected through exploration of the market potential for pellet fuels and ethanol. The project further supported enhanced job opportunities by collecting and sharing data about the types of stoves and fuels consumers prefer and their willingness to pay for charcoal alternatives.
Final Summary of Project Activities
The final activity on this project took place in February 2022, when members of the co-PI team at the Stockholm Environmental Center (SEI) in Kenya travelled to Zambia to collaborate with the PI Dr. Yamba and researcher Nancy Serenje at the Centre for Energy, Environment, and Engineering Zambia (CEEZ) on a series of activities, including a focus group discussion (FGD) meeting in Choma. The FGD participants included officials from the Provincial Forestry Department and District Forestry Department, members of the local Charcoal Producers Association, and staff from SEI Kenya and CEEEZ. The main aims were to share updates on activities that had taken place since the first visit in 2019 and discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on charcoal production.
A report titled “An assessment of the Charcoal Producers Groups in Choma District and overview of the forecasted demand for charcoal in Zambia” was completed by SEI Kenya in the summer of 2022. Charcoal is critical for African countries; consequently, exploring and investing in effective ways to monitor, manage, and support sustainable production and trade in wood fuel is valuable. Charcoal producers in Sub-Saharan Africa can be broadly classified into three major groups: independent, seasonal, and employed producers. The role and influence of these producer categories continue to put pressure on the natural ecosystem of the resources in the region, while at the same time loosing revenue streams that could be diverted to other sectors. Hence, it is crucial to conduct research on formalization of these groups and their potential role in reducing the losses faced in financial streams and further pushing the region to face increased risks related to climate change. The report highlights challenges in the charcoal value chain, looks at supporting policy and legal frameworks, presents an assessment of the producer groups, and offers conclusions based on the findings.
Modelling work undertaken and presented in the report shows that charcoal use intensity will remain the same over the next decade under the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario, assuming minimum policy implications. Strict government policy actions are essential to shift cooking patterns, and this is discussed in the sustainable scenario, which has factored in current measures taken by the government in terms of policy giving direction in demand management and production efficiency. This is projected to reduce charcoal demand by 35% against the BAU scenario, from 1.9 million tons to 1.2 million tons of charcoal in 2030, and firewood requirements by 55% against BAU, from 19.5 million tons of wood to 9.7 million tons in 2030. The Choma Charcoal Producers Association is at the forefront of making these efforts a reality, despite the long journey ahead. The lessons learned from the association can be replicated in establishing other similar associations across Zambia to potentially decrease the current losses. Policy must go together with this practice, and this is important for complementing the efforts of the producers who join the producer groups and association overall.
The CEEEZ and SEI Kenya teams have established a good relationship with the Food and Agriculture Organization branch that works with charcoal producers in Zambia. This has also led to associations with the Charcoal Producers Association in Choma, the Zambia Forestry Department, and Cotton Association of Choma. The results and methodologies of the teams’ initial studies on the project have been shared with these NGOs and relevant government institutions.
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