In a recent announcement at the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, the European Investment Bank (EIB) committed $15 million to BURN Manufacturing, Kenya's leading producer of clean cooking appliances. The investment supports BURN's mission to distribute its flagship ECOA Electric Induction Cookers to more than one million households throughout East Africa. This partnership, which leverages innovative finance, is projected to benefit over 6.5 million people, reduce carbon emissions by 12 million tons over five years, and advance progress on climate, health, and women’s empowerment goals.

Revolutionizing Cooking in East Africa

Traditional cooking methods that rely on wood, charcoal, or other biomass sources pose health risks, environmental hazards, and socioeconomic burdens. BURN’s ECOA induction cookers address these issues directly by providing a clean alternative that uses renewable energy from the region’s grids, which are 80-95% powered by sustainable sources. As a result, BURN’s solution will significantly reduce indoor air pollution, a major contributor to respiratory illnesses responsible for around 4 million premature deaths globally each year.

Nadia Calviño, President of the EIB Group, underscored the project’s impact on health and the environment, noting, “This investment is not just about improving lives but saving them as well. Our support for BURN’s clean cooking initiative reflects the European Union’s commitment to sustainable development and gender equality in Africa under the Global Gateway Initiative.”

A Tech-Driven, Inclusive Approach

BURN’s ECOA cookers come with a unique Pay-As-You-Cook (PAYC) payment option, providing affordable access for low-income households. This system allows customers to pay for the cookers incrementally, making it feasible for those unable to afford the full upfront cost of an electric cooking appliance. This approach is particularly valuable in regions where solid biomass remains the primary fuel source, despite its environmental and health costs.

The EIB’s $15 million funding, channeled through the Desiree Investment Envelope within the African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) Impact Finance Envelope, supports projects that bring high developmental returns with manageable investment risk. These cookers are bundled with a durable, three-piece stainless steel cookware set manufactured entirely in Kenya, which lowers cooking time by 70% and significantly reduces fuel costs for households.

Peter Scott, Founder and CEO of BURN, noted the significance of the investment, stating, "BURN has already provided affordable electric cooking solutions to thousands of households across Kenya and Tanzania, helping them transition from charcoal to electricity. With this new investment, we are scaling our impact to reach over a million households across the region."

Gender Equality and Economic Empowerment

In addition to addressing health and climate concerns, the EIB and BURN partnership prioritizes gender equality, as women disproportionately bear the health risks of indoor cooking pollution in many developing countries. As part of the 2X Challenge, a global initiative aiming to advance women’s economic participation and empowerment, this project qualifies as a “gender lens investment,” providing direct benefits to women in low- and middle-income communities.

The 2X Challenge, launched at the G7 summit in 2018, enables the private sector to create positive impacts in emerging markets through its standardized 2X criteria. The EIB’s role in such initiatives exemplifies its dedication to embedding gender equality in its projects and operations globally, committing €5.8 billion in investment for projects that promoted both gender equality and climate action in 2023 alone.

Leading Africa’s Clean Cooking Movement

BURN Manufacturing, founded in 2011, is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, and has expanded its operations to nine African countries. As a recognized leader in Africa’s clean cooking industry, BURN has distributed over five million clean cookstoves, impacting 25 million lives and reducing carbon emissions by 26 million tons to date. BURN’s electric cooking appliances, equipped with cellular-enabled IoT technology, enable real-time monitoring of energy use and contribute to high-integrity carbon credits that offset emissions and generate sustainable financing for future expansion.

Supported by peer-reviewed research, BURN’s impact has been validated by studies from institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Chicago. Recent data from a longitudinal study published in The American Economic Review found BURN’s stoves deliver sustained fuel savings and emissions reduction. According to the study, households using BURN stoves reduce CO2 emissions by 3.5 tons per year on average, and the stoves remain highly effective and in active use three years post-purchase.

As Africa’s largest clean cooking enterprise, BURN is uniquely positioned to accelerate East Africa’s transition to electric cooking with the EIB’s strategic investment. Together, BURN and the EIB aim to reduce pollution, advance health outcomes, and empower women economically across East Africa. Through this collaboration, BURN exemplifies Africa's potential for innovative manufacturing and technology-driven solutions that serve both people and the planet. The EIB’s support of BURN’s clean cooking initiative reaffirms the EU’s commitment to high-impact development and climate goals in emerging markets, fostering a healthier and more sustainable future for millions of East African households.