Maendeleo Stove

The Maondeleo stove is an improved stove that is designed to replace the three-stone hearth commonly used in the rural areas. The Maendeleo stove has an improved combustion efficiency of 30% and fuelwood savings of about 50%. An estimated 3-20 hours a week can be saved in collection of firewood per household. In addition, it emits less than half of the polluants produced by the three-stone hearth

Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) and Intermediate Technology Development Group (IT) were involved in the development launching and commercialization of the Maendeleo stove in over 41 districts in Kenya The program was carried out by existing networks of governmerdal extension workers (e.g., agricultural). This eliminated the logistics and expenses of establishing new channels. As a result of these efforts, awareness of the Maendeleo stove was significantly raised. To date, about 250,000 Maondeleo stoves have been disseminated countrywide.

Issues of financing played a significant role in stove dissemination. Support from the two agencies, GTZ and IT, financed research and technical development of the stoves as well as transport, training, and marketing. The study, however, found that direct subsidies on the cost of the stove were detrimental to the sustainability of the stove programme. A commercial approach makes stove production lucrative to small-scale "entrepreneurs-as production costs and a profit marginare factored in to the price of the stove.

Other concerns that have affected the dissemination of the Maondeleo stove are capacity building, the environment, and equity. Over 5000 women have benefited from training offered by the two prograrumes in stove production business skills, and financial management. Hundreds of artisans have also been trained in stove production. With rising environmental awareness, especially of the impact of air pollution and localized fuelwood scarcity, adoption of the Maendeleo stove is increasing.