BRAZZAVILLE/Republic of the Congo: The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group and the Government of Italy have unveiled a new €25 million Clean Cooking Programme aimed at expanding access to modern cooking solutions for about one million households across Africa while significantly reducing carbon emissions on the continent.
The initiative, known as the RPFF Clean Cooking Programme (RCCP), was announced during a special session at the AfDB’s 2026 Annual Meetings in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, where stakeholders underscored the urgent need to accelerate investments in clean energy solutions to improve public health, environmental sustainability and economic development across Africa.
The programme is being implemented under the Rome Process/Mattei Plan Financing Facility (RPFF), a financing mechanism established in February 2025 to support strategic investments in energy, transport and water infrastructure through a blend of grants and concessional funding.
Speaking at the event, Director of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at the African Development Bank, Dr. Daniel Schroth, said the initiative is expected to provide clean cooking access to approximately one million households and help cut an estimated five million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
According to him, the programme aligns with the clean cooking targets outlined in the Mission 300 National Energy Compacts and complements ongoing efforts by international partners, including the International Energy Agency (IEA).
In his opening remarks, Lorenzo Ortona, Deputy Coordinator of the Mission Structure for the Mattei Plan at the Office of the Italian Prime Minister, described clean cooking as one of the most pressing development challenges facing Africa.
“Nearly one billion people in Africa still lack access to clean cooking solutions, with serious consequences for health, gender equality and economic development,” Ortona said.
The session featured high-level discussions involving government representatives from Denmark, Ethiopia, Kenya and Zambia, who highlighted the importance of increased investment and stronger partnerships to bridge Africa’s clean cooking gap.
Denmark’s State Secretary for Development Policy, Elsebeth Søndergaard Krone, reaffirmed her country’s commitment to the initiative, noting that access to clean cooking remains a key development priority for the Danish government.
Kenya, which will host the second Africa Clean Cooking Summit in Nairobi from July 9 to 10, 2026, disclosed that it is developing an e-cooking market programme with support from the facility. Ethiopia, which is preparing to host COP32 in 2027, is integrating clean cooking into its wider climate agenda, while Zambia is expanding access to clean cooking in line with its Mission 300 National Energy Compact.
Since its establishment, the RPFF has secured approximately €168 million in commitments from Italy, the United Arab Emirates and Denmark. The facility currently supports projects ranging from solar-powered water systems in Ethiopia and green mini-grids in Mauritania to strategic transport infrastructure along the Lobito Corridor in Angola and Zambia.
AfDB officials disclosed that the existing RPFF portfolio has already leveraged about €389 million in co-financing from the Bank and an additional €148 million from governments and development partners.
Schroth described the facility as a model of effective development cooperation, noting that it had rapidly moved from concept to implementation while delivering measurable results.
“The new clean cooking programme is strategically important because it addresses one of Africa’s most urgent development challenges at the intersection of energy access, health, gender, climate and livelihoods,” he said.
Ortona added that the initiative goes beyond energy access, stressing that it is designed to improve living conditions, create opportunities and enhance the dignity of millions of Africans.
Closing the session, Francesca Utili, Alternate Governor at Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, praised the growing partnership between Italy and the African Development Bank, saying the facility had become fully operational within a year of its launch and was already responding effectively to the development priorities of African countries.
She said the programme demonstrates the value of collaborative financing in advancing sustainable infrastructure development, expanding energy access and supporting Africa’s long-term economic transformation.
