Standards and labeling (S&L) programs have been proven an effective tool for transforming the market for efficient end-user products in many countries. Similarly, the application of best practice principles and experiences from S&L programs, such as analysis of market data, product testing and stakeholder engagement, can also facilitate the transition to clean and efficient cookstoves and fuels.
The Coalition has supported the non-profit organization, CLASP, and the Clean Cooking Alliance (former Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves) to carry out a series of standards and labeling projects to increase the penetration of clean cookstoves.
Developing S&L programs requires time and investment and it typically takes five years before a regulation is implemented. S&L programs require legal, financial, physical, and institutional resources, as well as strong political will. In many target countries, these resources already exist to some degree, although support is needed to facilitate the design and implementation of an effective cookstove S&L program.
The overall objective of this project is to develop the national strategies for cookstove standards and labeling programs in Guatemala, Kenya and Nigeria.
Developing the national strategies for cookstove S&L programs included mapping stakeholders, ongoing interventions, and the policy framework; determining how a national S&L approach might support ongoing initiatives; and assessing potential challenges and barriers to implementing effective S&L programs. CLASP interviewed cookstove and government stakeholders from all sectors (policy, implementation, test facilities, manufacturers, importers, retailers, civil society, other aid organizations, etc) to provide their perspective on the cookstove landscape and relevant barriers to clean cooking in target countries.
The final country strategies – based on the inputs from stakeholders and international S&L best practices – recommended a high-level approach to developing cookstove S&L programs unique to each country, as well as detailed implementation activities, should local partners decide to adopt the high-level approach.
The private sector, the government of Nigeria, and local and international NGOs, including the Nigeria Alliance for Clean Cookstoves and the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, seek to...
Standards and Labelling Best Practice - Application in cookstoves certification programmes
Presentation given by Nicole Kearney CLASP on April 19, 2017 in Kampala, Uganda.
