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The pilot project is taking place in the town of Vihamba, Cacula, Huíla.
The lives of women living in rural communities of Angola are being transformed, thanks to the new solar kitchen campaign by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Angola.
Dubbed the “Solar Kitchen: The Kitchen with the Right Energy,” the campaign aims to establish solar-powered kitchens for rural cooperatives without access to electricity.
The pilot project is taking place in the town of Vihamba, Cacula, Huíla. According to UNDP, access to energy in Angola is limited to less than 48% of the population, with less availability in rural areas, where wood and charcoal remain the main source of energy and subsistence.
These rural communities are primarily made up of the two-thirds of the population that rely on agriculture for food, income and employment, with women accounting for the majority of the workforce in harvesting and selling, as well as finding and using alternative fuels for cooking, which are frequently hazardous to one’s health.
The UNDP Angola states that the campaign will boost sustainable development in rural communities through the creation of sustainable income opportunities for women-led businesses promoted by renewable energy solutions.
Women in Angola work hard but are in need of solar-powered kitchens
The campaign aims to raise funds through impact grants to help women-led cooperatives that rely largely on agriculture by providing renewable energy solutions and suitable infrastructure for agricultural processing and transformation.
UNDP explains that while the women in this Huila region work hard to grow food for their family and community, without electricity, they struggle to successfully produce and store their harvests, such as pumpkin and sweet potato, resulting in missed potential for success.
“Through the campaign, UNDP Angola aims to provide solar-powered kitchens, along with better conditions, such as improved access to water and equipment to enhance production, transform crops into market-ready goods, and preserve food and products,” they stated. |
