• Bboxx has signed a contract with the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) to tap into a World Bank- subsidy programme to roll out clean cooking solutions to half a million households across the country. This subsidy programme is an envelope of $17 million for the Industry, accessible depending on the performance of operations.
• Traditional cooking methods harm health and cause pollution, high carbon emissions, and deforestation
• Clean cooking solutions have a dramatic impact on health and economic outcomes, with women benefitting the most
• The project reinforces Bboxx’s role as a leader in sustainable development, addressing 5 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
2nd October 2023 – Bboxx, a data-driven super platform and champion of economic empowerment in Africa, will take part in a subsidy programme – funded by the World Bank – to support the implementation of a major clean cooking initiative across Rwanda and has signed a contract with the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) to access a share of this grant.
Bboxx’s clean cooking brand, Bboxx Cook, will utilise an initial portion of the subsidy to support the ambition of providing up to 500,000 Rwandan households with cleaner cooking solutions, with the option to access a budget allocation extension upon completion of the first tranche of the project. This represents a key part of the wider subsidy programme, designed to catalyse an improvement in lives by reducing the percentage of households that use firewood for cooking from 80% in 2017 to 42% by 2024 — and completely phasing out the use of charcoal in urban areas.
Globally, one third of the global population – 2.4 billion people – still do not have access to clean cooking . Traditional cooking methods such as wood and charcoal create cancer-causing by-products and carbon monoxide in the smoke, leading to long-term health effects and sapping resources from healthcare systems — and women are the ones who suffer most. 2.5 million deaths occur prematurely each year due to household air pollution, mostly from cooking smoke .
By moving away from traditional cooking fuels, women are improving the health of their families. They’re also saving time: in many societies, women and girls bear the primary responsibility for cooking and gathering fuel, often spending hours each day on these tasks. Clean cooking solutions – such as liquified petroleum gas (LPG) – free precious time each week, creating greater opportunities for education and productive economic activities.
This is why both Bboxx and World Bank continue to hold clean cooking as a key corporate priority. World Bank aims to support access for up to 100 million people by 2026 through mobilising political commitment, scaling up investments, and promoting innovations.
Wood and charcoal also contribute significantly to carbon emissions and deforestation – charcoal and wood respectively have a 50% and 74% larger carbon footprint than LPG , and as much as 30% of global deforestation is used for charcoal production. Clean cooking solutions reduce these impacts, helping mitigate some of the biggest sources of emission, pollution, and deforestation in the developing world.
Mansoor Hamayun, CEO and Co-Founder of Bboxx, said:
“Every minute we wait, lives are lost and potential is smothered by toxic smoke from traditional cooking methods. This isn’t just about providing cleaner cooking solutions; it’s about unlocking Rwanda’s potential and transforming people’s lives.
“With this landmark partnership, Bboxx, alongside the World Bank, the BRD and EDCL, is here to ignite the revolution for clean cooking in Rwanda. We’re turning the tide on the environmental devastation caused by traditional cooking methods and setting a new standard for clean, healthy living. We won’t stop until every household in Rwanda, and beyond, can cook clean.”
Bboxx Cook is well-placed to answer the urgent need in clean cooking, offering a combination of technologies (software and hardware) that make clean cooking with LPG affordable through micro-finance, including an in-house efficient stove that improves the energy efficiency from the stove to the pot.
ENDS
Structure of the subsidy programme:
- World Bank: The World Bank is the funding organisation providing this subsidy to the Government of Rwanda through BRD. The World Bank also takes part in accessing the application process for companies applying for the subsidy.
- (Development Bank of Rwanda) BRD: BRD’s role is to review the applications of the potential beneficiary companies and, if they fulfil all the requirements, approve them as eligible for the subsidy. BRD also disburses funds to companies upon on fulfilling all the requirements.
- Bboxx: Bboxx’s role is to acquire eligible beneficiaries of the subsidy, provide them with clean cooking solutions, provide after sales services in case beneficiaries have technical issues with their cooking appliances, and submit those served to BRD to receive payment for its services.
- EDCL: ECDL is a market facilitator, ensuring that companies provide what was committed in the contract by carrying out desk and field verifications to ensure that the ultimate beneficiaries receive the clean cooking appliances.
The financial structure of the subsidy is planned as follows: $17 million (managed by BRD) for the subsidy and $3 million for the Technical Assistance (fully managed by EDCL).
Sustainable Development Goals addressed by this subsidy:
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land
`
About Bboxx:
Bboxx is a data-driven super platform, transforming lives and unlocking potential by connecting consumers and deploying innovative products across Africa.
Bboxx is championing the economic empowerment of Africa, accelerating the transition to the digital economy and creating new markets. We have built Bboxx Pulse®, a fully integrated operating system, and combined it with an extensive on-the-ground network to connect customers with clean energy, clean cooking, smartphones, e-mobility and selected financial products – many for the first time.
We are connecting both underserved rural communities and aspiring urban ones with a highly convenient and affordable way to access life-changing solutions, through last mile logistics and data-powered innovative financing methods. We offer our services on a pay-as-you-go basis to households, businesses, and communities, enabling African consumers to unlock their potential.
We build strategic partnerships with investors, utilities providers, global companies, and governments to accelerate growth and provide a wide range of products to consumers in Africa. Our partners are seizing a massive market opportunity by plugging into Bboxx – developed through green tech and big data and designed for scale.
Following the successful acquisition of solar energy frontrunner PEG Africa in 2022, Bboxx is now positively impacting the lives of more than 3.6 million people in 10 operating markets, directly contributing to 11 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Bboxx and its group of companies is one of the largest networks in Africa, with over 4,000 staff across Africa and offices in the UK and Asia.
For more information about Bboxx please visit bboxx.com and follow us on social channels LinkedIn and Twitter.
For more information please contact:
Bboxx / Impact and Influence
bboxx@impactandinfluence.global
Nicholas Moore
+44 7527 695 154
nicholas@impactandinfluence.global
