Enhancing Access to Clean Cooking Solutions for Household, Micro-enterprises and MSMEs of Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma and Bukavu in DRC.

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Overview :

Enhancing Access to Clean Cooking Solutions for Household, Micro-enterprises and MSMEs of Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma and Bukavu in DRC.

In DRC, UNCDF is implementing with UNDP a Joint Programme for the Sustainable Consumption and Partial Substitution for Wood Energy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).  Funded by the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) through the National REDD+ Funds of the DRC (FONAREDD), the Joint Programme is structured around three main energy sub-sectors of focus: Improved Stoves; Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG); Micro-Hydro Electricals. This is through an institutional setup that makes use of a diversified partnership with Congolese public institutions, the private sector, UN agencies, research institutions and learned societies as well as civil society. To this end, the Joint Programme aims to contribute to the establishment of a sustainable clean cooking market through (i) the establishment of a favorable environment and (ii) an incubation programme for the private sector to select clean cooking companies to receive funding and technical assistance throughout the duration of the programme. In line with the national and international lessons learned, the Joint Programme’s efforts are focused on sites where a viable and self-sufficient potential market exists, with the presence of actors able to benefit effectively from catalytic technical and financial support of the Joint Programme to change scale of production (knowledge of the sector and sufficient basic entrepreneurial capacities).

UNCDF aims to address the barriers to clean cooking energy access in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by developing local market for clean cooking (improved energies and cook stoves) in a viable and commercial way through an incubation programme.

In 2021, the study conducted by the Sustainable Consumption and Partial Substitution of firewood Program found that more than 95% of households depend on wood energy for cooking and only about 12% have access to improved cooking stoves using wood energy, which leads to a significant deforestation rate. Indeed, more than 54% of deforestation of the DRC’s forest cover is due to the collection of wood energy for cooking.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s National Energy Policy (2023-2035) highlights the pivotal role of the energy sector in its development plans. The reliance on biomass, such as wood and charcoal, for cooking energy has drawn

This program is fiunded by Central Africa Forest Initiative ( CAFI) and implemented by UNDP and UNCDF in Democratic Republic of Congo under the FONAREDD portfolio and aims at reducing usage of firewood for cooking in order to protect forest

considerable attention from local and international stakeholders, policymakers, governmental and non-governmental organizations. This attention is due to the significant deforestation effects and the health hazards posed by household air pollution (HAP) resulting from biomass combustion.

The promotion of clean fuel significantly influences a nation’s socio-economic landscape. Environmental and sustainability considerations have led to a notable decrease in the use of traditional heating and energy sources such as firewood and charcoal, making way for alternatives like liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), commonly referred to as “bottled gas.” Increased awareness among consumers regarding the benefits of LPG is expected to boost its usage. However, several factors contribute to the low and unequal access to and use of LPG, including the initial costs associated with acquiring LPG cylinders, cookstoves, and equipment, as well as a lack of consumer knowledge.

Recognizing these complex issues, the UNCDF aims to enhance clean cooking solutions access in DRC by optimizing distribution networks and scaling production. This initiative targets households, micro-entrepreneurs, and MSMEs to promote sustainable consumption and broaden clean cooking adoption.

The objectives of this TOR are the following:

1. Enhance clean cooking awareness among households of DRC. This would accelerate adoption of clean cooking solutions by educating them about available clean cooking solutions, its benefits and how they can access these solutions by cash or credit schemes.

        2. Increase clean cooking literacy among micro-entrepreneurs and MSMEs in the DRC, supporting the adoption of various clean cooking                  solutions including LPG.  This initiative aims to scale up clean cooking adoption and promote sustainable consumption patterns among                  these groups.

UNCDF invites applications from registered clean cooking companies and LPG companies with presence in DRC that can offer support to rural communities, in particular households, micro-entrepreneurs, and MSMEs, to acquire the skills and knowledge they need to access clean cooking solutions, including LPG solution for the clean cooking initiatives, to ensure that the full potential of UNCDF-supported interventions is realized. 

At the implementation level, the organization/firm/company shall comprise of field-based representatives who engage with and recruit stakeholders in selected rural areas, including households, micro-entrepreneurs, and MSMEs for the clean cooking initiatives.

The organization/firm/company will be tasked with raising awareness amongst these stakeholders on the availability and benefits of clean cooking solutions, particularly in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma and Bukavu in DRC.

Based on UNCDF’s commitments to developing and boost adoption of clean cooking solutions, including LPG adoption in the clean cooking initiatives in DRC, UNCDF is looking to on-board three clean cooking companies that will carry out the following activities: 

1. Creating comprehensive clean cooking solutions literacy training materials aimed at boosting the adoption of clean cooking solutions by educating household, micro-enterprises, and MSMEs of DRC. Activities will include stakeholder engagements and need assessments of targeted segments for the development and/or customization of clean cooking solutions literacy training modules. Additionally, materials will be developed to equip trainers for effective implementation.  
2. Deliver training targeting the household, micro-enterprises, and MSMEs of Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma and Bukavu in DRC. The trainings should lead to enhanced access, usage and adoption of clean cooking solutions for the clean cooking sector. 
3. Support households, micro-enterprises, and MSMEs in the clean cooking sector by offering diverse solutions. Activities include hands-on assistance to micro-enterprises and MSMEs, particularly in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma and Bukavu, to adopt various clean cooking solutions. This support aims to enhance access to and adoption of clean cooking initiatives.

Based on the three main activities listed above, the following outputs are expected to be delivered:

No	Activity	Output
1	Creating comprehensive clean cooking solutions literacy training materials aimed at boosting the adoption of clean cooking solutions by educating household, micro-enterprises, and MSMEs of DRC. Activities will include stakeholder engagements and need assessments of targeted segments for the development and/or customization of clean cooking solutions literacy training modules. Additionally, materials will be developed to equip trainers for effective implementation.	1. Assessment Report on clean cooking needs of targeted segments (household, micro-enterprises, and MSMEs of Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma and Bukavu in DRC.)   2. Two Training modules developed for targeted segments containing the following modules:   a. increasing access to clean cooking solutions literacy training materials aimed at boosting the adoption of clean cooking solutions by educating household, micro-enterprises, and MSMEs of DRC. b. train-the-trainer modules and materials
2	Deliver training targeting the household, micro-enterprises, and MSMEs of Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Bukavu in DRC. The trainings should lead to enhanced access, usage and adoption of clean cooking solutions for the clean cooking sector.	Detailed report with following targets achieved. 1. Engagement of field staffs and/or grassroot organizations to support facilitation of training activities    2. Training provided to at least 4,000   Households in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Goma and Bukavu in DRC (at least 60% women households).   3. Training provided to at least 100    micro-enterprises, and MSMEs of Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma and Bukavu in DRC (at least 40% women led MSMEs).
3	Support households, micro-enterprises, and MSMEs in the clean cooking sector by offering diverse solutions. Activities include hands-on assistance to micro-enterprises and MSMEs, particularly in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, and Bukavu, to adopt various clean cooking solutions. This support aims to enhance access to and adoption of clean cooking initiatives.	Detailed report with following targets achieved.   1. At least 2,000 household adopted clean cooking solutions (at least 60% women household)    2. At least 100 micro-enterprises, and MSMEs of Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma and Bukavu in DRC received clean cooking solutions for the clean cooking initiatives (at least 50%  women led MSMEs)

The personnel of the successful service provider should have experience in providing clean cooking solutions, engaging with local household, micro-enterprises, and MSMEs of Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma and Bukavu in DRC, have strong clean cooking literacy skills and be experienced in facilitating trainings or outreach activities among the target beneficiary population in the clean cooking activities. It is expected that the successful service provider shall set available or engage a fulltime project manager and a team of 3-5 personnel for timely completion of the assignment. The service provider can also provide its proposed workforce deployment plan as a part of the submission.

Please see attached RFP for detailed information on this opportunity and the proposal submission process.

Documents :

Request for Proposal

UNCDF – UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Deadline :

19-Jun-24

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