Geospatial Clean Cooking Access Modelling Using OnStove in Tanzania

The urgent need to transition Tanzanian households from traditional biomass fuels to cleaner cooking solutions is clear, as it addresses significant health, environmental, and social challenges. The Social Net Benefit scenario highlights immediate, substantial net benefits in urban areas through electricity and LPG, while rural regions remain largely dependent on biomass due to infrastructure and affordability barriers. The National Clean Cooking Strategy (NCCS)-aligned scenario outlines a realistic, phased approach targeting 80% clean cooking access by 2034, resulting in widespread health improvements, reduced emissions, and economic gains despite higher upfront costs. Key recommendations include expanding electricity and LPG infrastructure, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas; implementing financial mechanisms such as subsidies, pay-as-you-go models, and microfinance to reduce cost barriers; and using spatial decision-support tools like OnStove to optimise resource allocation. Additionally, collecting detailed, up-to-date data and conducting pilot program evaluations are essential to validate assumptions and guide adaptive policymaking. Coordinated efforts among government, the private sector, and communities will be critical to accelerate an equitable and sustainable clean cooking transition for Tanzania.