• MCFA awarded €1.2 million to Sun King Zambia to deploy up to 45,000 induction cookstoves by 2029.

• Zambia’s clean-cooking access stands at only 8.9%, far below the government’s 40% target for 2030.

• MCFA has committed €22.3 million across 13 companies in sub-Saharan Africa and seeks to catalyse another €13.6 million.

Clean cooking continues to advance across Africa despite structural challenges, as targeted financing mechanisms support the adoption of modern solutions in urban and rural areas. In Zambia, where progress remains slow, new funding aims to reinforce the transition.

The Modern Cooking Facility for Africa (MCFA) continued its support for electric cooking in Zambia by granting roughly €1.2 million to Sun King Zambia. The programme announced the financing on Thursday, 4 December, to help the company scale electric-cooking solutions for urban and peri-urban households already connected to the national grid. Sun King plans to deploy up to 45,000 induction stoves equipped with smart-metering systems by the end of 2029.

The devices record electricity consumption and usage patterns in real time, enabling Sun King to offer PAYGO (pay-as-you-go) cooking products. The model lets households make small monthly payments instead of absorbing high upfront costs. The company, formerly Greenlight Planet Zambia, has operated in the country since 2021 and has already distributed one million solar kits, strengthening its commercial presence.

Mark O’Keefe, Sun King’s Head of Clean Cooking, said: “We are proud to partner with MCFA to expand access to clean electric cooking across Zambia. This funding will help us provide safe and affordable induction cookers to households and small businesses, accelerating the shift toward cleaner and healthier homes.”

MCFA has become one of the main drivers of clean-cooking development in sub-Saharan Africa. By the end of 2024, the programme had built a portfolio of 13 companies supplying modern cooking solutions. It had committed more than €22.3 million and disbursed €5.7 million in 2024 alone. Supported companies also aim to mobilise an additional €13.6 million, underscoring the programme’s catalytic effect.

In Zambia, MCFA focuses on households already connected to the grid but still heavily reliant on biomass. National data show that clean-cooking access reaches only 8.9%, while the government targets 40% by 2030. The challenge is substantial for Zambia and for the wider region, where about 900 million people still lack access to clean-cooking solutions. This deficit keeps households dependent on wood and charcoal, harms public health and increases pressure on forest resources.

This article was initially published in French by Abdoullah Diop

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum