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Regional Clean Cooking Action West Africa (ReCCAWA)

Last checked on:
18 December 2025

The Regional Clean Cooking Action West Africa (ReCCAWA) programme promotes access to clean, affordable and sustainable cooking solutions. This initiative focuses on 3 main areas: supporting policy and regulation on clean cooking, strengthening supply chains and stimulating demand. ReCCAWA runs from 2025 to 2028.

What is ReCCAWA?

ReCCAWA is a regional initiative led by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It promotes modern cooking methods that are:

  • smoke-free;
  • energy-efficient;
  • climate-friendly; and
  • gender-sensitive.

Modern methods enable households to cook in a healthier, safer and more efficient way. They produce less smoke in the home and reduce the need for firewood. Women also spend less time collecting fuel and face fewer health problems. 

By providing access to clean cooking, ReCCAWA helps to:

  • reduce indoor air pollution;
  • reduce CO2 emissions;
  • empower women;
  • protect forests. 

For this 4-year programme, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs collaborates with the European Union (EU) delegation in Abuja (Nigeria). They are funding ReCCAWA together. 

Target countries

ReCCAWA activities take place in all ECOWAS countries: Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

African woman sorting clean cooking devices
© SNV

ReCCAWA approach

The programme's collaborative approach involves policymakers, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), institutions, sector organisations and NGOs. 

To help build a sustainable market for clean cooking across West Africa, ReCCAWA focuses on 3 areas:

  1. Supporting the enabling environment

    ReCCAWA supports the development of national and regional policies and quality standards for clean cooking.

  2. Stimulating demand

    By offering subsidies to households and running campaigns, ReCCAWA makes clean cooking methods more appealing and affordable. The campaigns focus on changing consumer behaviour.

  3. Strengthening supply

    ReCCAWA offers innovative financing for SMEs, including women-led businesses. The programme also provides business development support and access to (carbon) finance. Carbon finance refers to financial tools and investments used to fund projects that reduce or capture greenhouse gas emissions.

ReCCAWA results

Access to clean cooking

ReCCAWA's goal is to provide around 750,000 people in West Africa with access to clean, reliable and sustainable cooking solutions. The programme also supports climate action, aiming to reduce CO2 emissions equivalent to around 100,000 tons per year.

Sustainable development

The programme also contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

About clean cooking

Many households in low and middle-income countries still use polluting fuels for cooking, such as firewood and charcoal. These fuels produce a lot of smoke, which can cause serious health problems and even death.

Clean cooking solutions produce less smoke and require less fuel. They use cleaner energy sources and more efficient technologies. This helps improve people's health and safety. Examples of clean cooking methods include electric cookers and stoves that use solar energy, ethanol, or biogas.

Why is clean cooking important

ReCCAWA partners

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) implements ReCCAWA in cooperation with the following partners:

  • the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID);
  • the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE);
  • Energising Development (EnDev)

Questions about ReCCAWA?

If you have any questions about ReCCAWA or see opportunities for collaboration,

email reccawa@rvo.nl

Commissioned by:
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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