Mukuru, iRise Carbon partner on clean cooking drive in Malawi

Staff Writer

HARARE – REGIONAL climate solutions firm iRise Carbon has partnered with financial services giant Mukuru to distribute 150,000 clean cookstoves across Malawi over the next year.

The initiative targets rural households where cooking over open fires remains a primary, yet hazardous, daily necessity.

The project is expected to benefit approximately 750,000 people and slash household firewood consumption by as much as 50 percent.

The collaboration brings together iRise Carbon’s expertise in carbon reduction and clean-cooking solutions with Mukuru’s extensive presence as one of Africa’s leading financial services platforms.

Together, the organisations aim to roll out improved stoves that produce less smoke and use less wood, helping families breathe easier and spend less time searching for fuel.

Each stove represents not just a tool, but a welcome step toward cleaner air, greener forests and more education time for children and rest for women who both spend many hours gathering wood.

“When you reduce the smoke in a home, you improve a family’s health immediately,” said Yani Scordis, Chief Operating Officer – Clean Cooking at iRise Carbon.

“This initiative is about improving the rhythm of daily life for Malawian families by promoting cleaner kitchens and stronger communities. Equally, it is a direct contribution to Malawi’s national climate and conservation goals.”

By leveraging Mukuru’s vast network of community agents and digital platforms, the rollout will reach deep into rural Malawi, ensuring that even the most remote households can access the stoves free of charge.

“Mukuru’s mission has always been to connect and empower communities across Africa,” said Kruger Laurels, Head of Partnerships at Mukuru.

“Working with iRise Carbon means we are helping families cook more safely and sustainably through a simple but vital change that transforms daily life.”

Beyond improving lives, the initiative will play a critical role in reducing carbon emissions and protecting Malawi’s precious forests. iRise Carbon will manage the programme’s carbon-credit certification and impact monitoring, ensuring compliance with international climate standards and generating long-term environmental benefits.

Crucially, the project aligns with Malawi’s National Climate Change Management Policy and the country’s goal of expanding sustainable energy access for all. The urgency could not be clearer.

According to Global Forest Watch, Malawi lost nearly 250,000 hectares of tree cover between 2001 and 2023, almost one-sixth of its total forest area.

In 2023 alone, the country recorded its worst forest loss in more than two decades, with nearly 23,000 hectares cleared.

The heavy reliance on firewood and charcoal continues to drive deforestation, underscoring the need for cleaner, more sustainable cooking alternatives.