Nigeria- Integrating eCooking in Nigeria’s Clean Cooking Policy Implementation Plan and funding proposals for implementing e-cooking

Overview

This project responds to a request made by the National Council for Climate Change (NCCC) and the Federal Ministry of Environment of Nigeria to integrate a National eCooking component to the National Clean Cooking Policy Implementation Plan and to develop funding proposals for implementing e-cooking.

In Nigeria (and across sub-Saharan Africa) the population relies >90% on biomass for cooking, mostly through open fires or low-quality stoves. Nigeria has an electricity access rate of 60% (grid, mini-grid, off-grid). Fewer than 1% of households in Nigeria use electricity as their primary cooking fuel; 62% rely on unsafe cooking fuels (firewood, charcoal) (MECS,2021).  Nigeria spends more than US$1.3 billion on polluting cooking fuels each year, much of which could be redirected towards cooking with cleaner fuels (MECS,2021).  

Nigeria is a Government Partner to the Global electric Cooking Coalition (GeCCo), recognising the need to be ambitious in its targets relating to eCooking. This ambition is highlighted in Nigeria’s National Clean Cooking Policy Implementation Plan that includes a target for the adoption of electricity for cooking by 20% of Nigerian households by 2030. Huge expansion in electricity generation coming on board – 115,000 MW by 2030 will create generation surplus, and demand stimulation is a government priority (SE4ALL,2023).  Modelling by SEforAll using their Integrated Energy Planning tool showed that eCooking had much lower investment costs compared to LPG and biogas (SE4ALL,2022).  

This project should align with and contribute to the implementation of the following policies:  

• National Clean Cooking Policy (May 2024)  
• Climate Change Act (2021)  
• Electricity Act (2023)  

The project will lead to the integration of an e-Cooking component in Nigeria’s National Clean Cooking Policy Implementation Plan. 

Who to involve

• National Council for Climate Change  
• Federal Ministry of Environment  
• Federal Ministry of Power  

Expected results

Outcome 1: The Government of Nigeria endorses an eCooking component to their National Clean Cooking Policy Implementation Plan by the end of the project.

Indicator: Number of action plans, roadmaps, strategies, or other future plans with SLCP targets or mitigation measures formally adopted, endorsed and/or implemented  

• Output 1.1: An exploratory study which builds on the GeCCo Nigeria eCooking Readiness Assessment 2024, and covers the following:  
  • Exploration of general ownership of other electrical appliances and uptake of appliances and implications for scenarios on eCooking.  
  • Exploration of the range of available manufacturer, supplier and consumer financing options for breaking down the high upfront cost of energy-efficient eCooking appliances.  
  • Characterise and quantify the market segments for eCooking, (e.g. on-grid/mini-grid/off-grid, firewood/charcoal/kerosene/LPG users, rural/urban, low-/middle-/high-income). Consider gender dynamics.
  • Explore mechanisms to incentivise supply chain development  
  • Explore the establishment of repair and maintenance infrastructure.  
  • Explore the role of energy service companies (utilities, mini-grid developers and solar home system companies) in marketing, selling and supporting eCooking appliances.
  • Evaluate the potential for the local manufacture or assembly of eCooking appliances within Nigeria in the short-, medium- and long-term.  
  • Identify any bottlenecks in the electricity supply infrastructure in different parts of the country and for different market segments and explore potential mitigation strategies.
  • Explore the current and potential role of women and youth entrepreneurs in the eCooking sector.  
  • Identify areas where connections could be made between clean cooking and electrification policy to create a more integrated policy framework, including opportunities to embed eCooking within other national strategies.  
  • Identify a range of different policy mechanisms that could facilitate the uptake of eCooking and evaluate their relative efficacy and where possible, comment on the different policy mechanisms impact on government revenue generation.  
  • Carry out a policy scenario analysis that connects to the impact modelling and explores a range of scenarios from ‘business-as-usual’ to comprehensive policy support for eCooking.  
• Output 1.2: Develop an eCooking component to Nigeria’s National Clean Cooking Policy Implementation Plan based on the findings of existing baseline studies and results from output 1.1. This will be carried out to make sure that the most appropriate technology (or blend of technologies) is promoted for each market segment. This should cover:
  • Opportunities to embed eCooking within other national strategies, large-scale initiatives such as Mission300, and related policy instruments to facilitate integrated energy planning.  
  • Situational analysis, mission, vision and strategic objectives.  
  • Key activities, with targets, responsibility, timeframe, cost, risk assessment and staffing requirements.  
  • Barrier analysis while taking advantage of new opportunities.  
  • Specific actions to mainstream gender considerations into eCooking.
  • Specific actions to harness the potential of eCooking in informal settlements and humanitarian contexts – referring specifically to efficiency savings and opportunities in carbon financing.  
  • Quality and standards requirements, which may include an appliance repair and maintenance component. Propose a strategy to prevent an influx of poor-quality inefficient products.  
  • A theory of change and suitable mechanisms for planning, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting progress, including key performance indicators.  
  • Investment prospectus that can stimulate investment in the eCooking sector by showing the costs/benefits of implementing the strategy.
  • Proposal of solutions that break down upfront costs to: a) enable access to the market for suppliers and manufacturers, b) provide microfinancing for user access to appliances c) provide innovative financing mechanisms to allow end user benefits. This should focus particularly on digital business models such as PAYG and smart-meter-enabled carbon financing.
  • A stakeholder engagement plan including government, private sector, women entrepreneurs, civil society organisations, development partners, academia, media in tapping the available potential.  
  • Consider the need for eWaste management as a result of implementing the strategy.  
• Output 1.3: Engage with the Government of Nigeria to conduct stakeholders’ validation workshop(s) to validate the e-Cooking component for inclusion in Nigeria’s National Clean Cooking Policy Implementation Plan
  • Formulate a steering group (suggest no more than 10-12 organisations of key stakeholders) inclusive of all parties involved in the future validation of the strategy  
  • Present milestones throughout the strategy development process to the steering group
  • Include findings of eCooking baseline studies  
  • Site visit to participating households or informal settlements  

Outcome 2: The Government of Nigeria endorses project proposals/ initiatives for implementing e-cooking as projects for submission to public and private funding sources by the end of the project.  

Indicator: Amount of external funding (“catalysed funding”) for SLCP actions  

• Output 2.1: 5-7 appropriate projects/initiatives with business potential for scaling e-cooking supported by the public and private sector based on the findings of output 1.1 and 1.2. The draft projects/ initiatives should include:  
  • Project name  
  • Sector Description  
  • Outcomes  
  • Implementing entities  
  • Stakeholders  
  • Link to policies, plans  
  • General timeline for Development, Financing, Implementation, and Operation  
  • Mitigation potential  
  • Co-benefits  
  • Investment needs  
  • Potential business model, financing strategy  
  • Gaps and barriers to implementation and proposed enabling mechanisms  
  • Financial sustainability  
  • Potential financing partners  
  • Enabling, Capacity Building and Technical Assistance Needs  
  • Information and MRV Needs  
• Output 2.2: Design a plan to support three selected projects in coordination with public and private institutions. This plan should include the identification for financial opportunities.  
• Output 2.3: Workshop delivered to key stakeholders, from the financial sector, local and national governments, private sector to identify ways to make financial instruments available to finance organic waste management projects. 

APPLICATION PROCESs

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for consideration, project proposals must meet the following requirements:

• Complete and submitted before the deadline
• Submitted by a non-governmental organization (NGO), intergovernmental organization (IGO), or other not-for-profit entity.
• Requested funding is within the estimated budget amount, or includes a clear justification for additional expenses
• Project duration is less than 24 months
• Budget criteria are met and spending caps on expenses are respected.
• Please note that entities will be required to provide the last three (3) audited financial statements to be eligible for CCAC funding. These statements may be provided along with the application for funding or at the request of the CCAC Secretariat during the evaluation process.

For-profit entities may only participate in the project as stakeholders, co-funders, or end users. Applicants are encouraged to include for-profit entities in the development of the project proposal and/or during project implementation if their ownership of the proposed solution is key to the project’s success.  

How to apply

Eligible applicants are invited to apply using the Application Form and Excel Budget Form. Specific instructions on completing these forms are available in both documents.

Applicants may choose to follow the cost range proposed above OR propose a different budget supported by a clear justification. However, applicants should note that cost efficiency will play a significant role in the selection process.

The completed Application Form and Excel Budget Form should be submitted to secretariat [at] ccacoalition.org.

Evaluation criteria

Proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:

• Presents a clear plan to achieve the required outcomes during the lifetime of the project or soon after
• Includes a plan or activities to enable the scaling up of, replication of, or sustained use of project results over time
• Sets out a clear approach for enabling or contributing to SLCP emissions reductions and resulting co-benefits
• Involves relevant stakeholders
• Approach is grounded in a strong understanding of relevant risks
• Complements other relevant initiatives, funding mechanisms, and existing policy processes
• Applicant demonstrates necessary capacity and experience to perform the work
• A realistic, cost-effective, and clearly justified budget and approach is proposed
• Project meets the minimum requirements for the OECD DAC gender equality marker Score 1
   
  Selection process
• A preliminary review of proposals submitted by the deadline will be conducted by members of the CCAC Secretariat, Funding Task Team, and Board, in consultation with relevant CCAC Partners.
• Shortlisted applicants will be invited to present their proposals in further detail and to respond to follow-up questions about their application.
• Successful applicants will be invited to develop a Project Implementation Plan and Detailed Budget in consultation with the CCAC Secretariat and relevant CCAC Partners.
• The selection process may take up to 6 months after the closing date of the call for proposals. Due to the high volume of requests, the CCAC will not respond to requests for updates or feedback during this time.

Due diligence and procurement

Due diligence  

CCAC implementers with UNEP contractual agreements must meet with the following requirements:   

• Have adequate financial resources to perform the contract and meet all existing commitments (financial health)
• Be able to provide proof of registration, proof of not-for-profit status and audited financial statements for the last three completed fiscal years  
• Have a record of satisfactory performance with UNEP/CCAC, when applicable; and  - Not have been suspended or debarred by UNEP/CCAC or another UN agency. UNEP/CCAC also considers entities included in the Security Council Resolution Lists to be ineligible for UNEP/CCAC agreements. 
  * (inter)governmental entities/ United Nations are exempt from this requirement

Contract requirements

If selected for funding, your project will be contracted through the United Nations. Organisation(s) selected to implement the project must meet the following due diligence and procurement rules.

Procurement

As a general rule, Implementation Agreements allow for incidental procurement only.