Goma: Green Finance, a Conclave of Women Entrepreneurs and Housewives on Clean Cooking, Sustainable Energy Use, and Access to Renewable Energy Credits

In a province marked by environmental challenges and massive population displacement, the Congolese Alert for the Environment and Human Rights (ACEDH) organized a conclave in Goma, North Kivu province, on April 18, 2024.

This event aimed to raise awareness among women about the importance of clean cooking and to discuss the consequences of using unsustainable cooking methods.

The energy consumption, especially in the cooking process, plays a crucial role in the daily lives of women. However, the forced displacement of women due to the situation of war in North Kivu has disrupted their consumption and production habits, resulting in a significant impact on the forests, particularly the Virunga National Park.

The use of firewood and charcoal for cooking has contributed to deforestation and indoor air pollution. This pollution has led to severe diseases, primarily affecting women and children, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating 3.2 million annual deaths due to indoor pollution. Similarly, the city of Goma is facing a high concentration of displaced people, influencing the environment and demanding urgent measures from environmental actors.

The cooperative SILOE, in partnership with ACDH, conducted this activity. Together, they developed a product for green finance called “clean energy credit,” which aims to support vulnerable households, mainly women, to connect to renewable energies such as SNEL, Virunga Energie, Nuru, and Socodee, as well as to individually purchase solar panels based on their needs in the city of Goma. Additionally, the purchase of cooking kits aims to enable beneficiaries to preserve agricultural products for commercial and food purposes, for example, fish, which are the basis of their economic activities.

The overall objective of this conclave was to inform participants about the importance of clean cooking and discuss the consequences of unsustainable cooking methods. Specific objectives included providing information on different clean cooking methods, raising awareness about the consequences of unsustainable cooking methods, empowering women in clean cooking and access to credit, and producing leaflets on the prudent use of energy resources.

This initiative aims to encourage the adoption of clean cooking practices, raise awareness about the impact of unsustainable cooking, and explore pathways for sustainable and responsible consumption of available energy. By joining forces, women and environmental actors can shape a healthier future for future generations while preserving the region’s natural resources.

This activity was made possible with the support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands through the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Netherlands). It marks an important step towards transitioning to more sustainable cooking practices, demonstrating the ongoing commitment to the environment and the health of local communities.

The Editorial Team