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This report discusses findings from an investigation into the progress of a three-year solar electric stove pilot project trialed in 61 households and a day-care centre in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Dowa District, Malawi, starting in September 2022. A follow-up study was conducted 18 months after installation. The project was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed the pilot start date, originally planned for 2020. Through household surveys and focus group discussions, the study found that although the Pesitho ECOCA devices were well-received by beneficiaries and several benefits were highlighted, including cost savings and health benefits, only 20% (12 households) of the cookers were still fully operational and in use. A further 29% of the devices were able to provide solar electric charging to beneficiaries’ digital devices, such as mobile phones. Several factors were identified as potentially contributing to the limited lifespan of solar electric cookstoves. These include, but are not limited to, insufficient training in maintenance and upkeep, overburdensome use, inadequate provision of aftercare and technical assistance, and a reported lack of cookstove robustness, particularly with regards to the battery.
In contrast, five of six solar electric cookstoves installed in an institutional setting, a day-care centre, were in regular and consistent use, by a small cohort of trained beneficiaries, who prepared simple foods, for the duration of the installation period, with few reported problems. The devices were extremely well regarded by the staff, with benefits from cooking (porridge and staff food), medicinal (hot water for treatment) and electric device charging perspectives (e.g. charging of e.g. phones).
This study discusses the solar electric pilot project background, focus group discussion, baseline and follow-up survey findings, and concludes with recommendations based on project learnings, for future initiatives of similar character.
Project Overview[]
- Location: Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Malawi
- Initiators: World Food Programme (WFP) and Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS)
- Technology: Pesitho ECOCA solar electric cookstoves
- Timeline: Pilot launched in September 2022; follow-up study in January 2024
Objectives[]
- Assess long-term adoption and impact of solar electric cooking
- Understand changes in cooking habits and fuel use
- Extract lessons for future clean cooking interventions in displacement settings
Participants[]
- 67 ECOCA units distributed: 61 to households, 6 to a day-care center
- Survey reached 59 households and 4 institutional cooks
- Majority of household cooks were women; average household size was 7
Key Findings[]
- Low sustained use: Only 20% (12 of 59) of households still used ECOCAs for cooking after 18 months
- Breakdowns: 75% of units were non-functional due to battery issues, lack of maintenance, or theft
- Charging use: 29% of units still used for charging devices, even if not for cooking
- Training gaps: Many users lacked sufficient training, especially on maintenance and multi-functionality
- Demographics: Younger and unemployed users were more likely to continue using the stoves
Institutional Success[]
- 5 of 6 stoves at the Children’s Respite Day-care Centre remained in regular use
- Staff reported high satisfaction, citing benefits for cooking, hot water, and device charging
Lessons Learned[]
- Durability & support: Technical robustness and ongoing support are critical
- User training: Training should target primary cooks and be reinforced over time
- Context matters: Institutional settings may offer more consistent usage than households
Recommendations[]
- Improve stove durability and battery life
- Provide ongoing technical support and refresher training
- Consider institutional deployments for higher impact
- Design future interventions with user behavior and context in mind