Liberia - Strengthening Clean Household Energy Transition in Liberia

RATIONALE

This project responds to a request by Liberia's Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a household energy assessment using the WHO “Household Energy Assessment Rapid Tool” that will serve as input to inform revisions and operationalize strategies under Liberia's climate and health policies, and to include clean household energy priorities into national frameworks and action plans.

Household air pollution is a major environmental and public health challenge in Liberia, where a large portion of the population particularly in rural areas—relies on traditional biomass fuels and inefficient cooking methods such as three-stone fires with minimal access to electricity.  In 2004, it was estimated that over 95% of the population relied on firewood, charcoal, and palm oil for their energy needs, and in 2018, the proportion had remained much the same. This widespread use of polluting fuels exposes women and children disproportionately to harmful emissions that contribute to respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease, and premature deaths. In addition to its significant health burden, household air pollution contributes to ambient air pollution and climate change through the release of black carbon and other pollutants.

The National Energy Policy (2018) and the rural electrification strategy and master plan (2016) both emphasize clean cooking; however, their implementation has lagged. The proposed project will strengthen Liberia’s national commitment to clean household energy by leveraging the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Indoor Air Quality Guidelines on Household Fuel Combustion and the associated Clean Household Energy Solutions Toolkit (CHEST). The project will serve as a platform for intersectoral collaboration, policy development, and targeted action to integrate clean energy into national development and health strategies. This project will also build national capacity of government staff on the BAR-HAP tool, which quantifies the benefits of action to reduce household air pollution.  

The project outputs should result in a comprehensive Household Energy Assessment using WHO’s HEART tool that will inform national planning and investment decisions in support of Liberia’s clean cooking transition; and will equip policymakers with the knowledge and tools needed to design effective programs, engage the health sector, and raise public awareness.  

Where relevant, this project should leverage the CCAC Air Quality Management Exchange (AQMx) Platform including through use of tailored guidance and resource library.  

Activities

Outcome 1: The Government of Liberia has integrated clean household energy priorities into national frameworks and action plans, informed by findings from the HEART assessment 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 advocacy workshop on CHEST/HEART guidelines conducted for policymakers, senior government staff, and private sector.
• Output 1.2: Liberia HEART assessment conducted and published with a focus on clean cooking, heating, and lighting
• Output 1.3: Stakeholder workshop to validate the HEART assessment report and align with national policies
• Output 1.4: HEART findings disseminated to government and stakeholders through presentations and webinars

Outcome 2: The Government of Liberia has increased capacity on engaging the health community and on communication and awareness raising by the end of the project.

Indicator: Number of government entities with a demonstrated improved capacity for SLCP action

• Output 2.1: Training of senior government staff from MoH, NPHIL, MME, EPA, on BAR-HAP Tool

Outcome 3: The Government of Liberia has catalyzed funding for clean cooking solutions, including electric cooking (e-cooking), by creating an enabling environment for investment and engaging development partners and private sector actors by the end of the project.

Indicator: Amount of “catalyzed funding” for SLCP mitigation effort

• Output 3.1: Investment case for clean cooking and e-cooking developed and presented to national stakeholders and development partners.
• Output 3.2: Mapping of financing mechanisms and donor engagement strategy for clean cooking in Liberia completed.
• Output 3.3: At least two funding proposals submitted to international donors and climate finance institutions in support of scaling up clean cooking. 

Reference number: [LB-25-006] Liberia - Strengthening Clean Household Energy Transition in Liberia