Beyond Climate Mitigation: The Promising Social Impact of MEC’s Electric Cooking Program on Women in Rural India

Stories from the field

Induction cooking is a complex issue in India, given that polluting fossil fuels like coal remain the primary source of electricity generation in the country. However, as India moves to cleaner and more renewable sources of electricity in the future, following the worldwide push in power systems planning to move to cleaner sources of fuel, the future of clean cooking in India is surely electric. At MEC, we are leading the movement by ensuring that when the day comes, the underserved and low-income communities of women are not left behind in the energy transition once again, as the last in the socio-economic ladder to receive access to clean cooking technologies.

Our clean cooking program, MicroEnergy Credits – Microfinance for Clean Cooking Product Lines – India (GS12066), is the pioneer carbon program promoting e-cooking in India, through which induction cookstoves are being made available to women microentrepreneurs in low-income communities to cook in cleaner, safer environments on their journey up the clean energy ladder. The program also has the accomplishment of being issued the first-of-their-kind carbon credits earlier this year under the new Gold Standard Methodology for Metered & Measured Energy Cooking Devices. It has a verified impact on SDGs 1, 3, 5, 7, 8 &13.

The program has a clear environmental impact with verified reduced emissions. By replacing cooking fuels like wood and charcoal, induction cookstoves reduce associated GHG emissions and provide a cleaner cooking environment with no indoor air pollution. By eliminating the need for firewood, the stoves also directly reduce the need to chop down trees for fuel, preventing deforestation in the local area and positively impacting the environment. To date, the program has already reduced 85,310 tonnes of carbon emissions from being released into the atmosphere and is on track to reduce several thousand tonnes more year-on-year.

Not only that, the program supports better health outcomes for families, especially for women and children. According to The Economist, 4 million people still die prematurely every year because of the indoor air pollution generated by cooking with polluting fuels like coal and kerosene, making it the world’s third-biggest cause of early mortality for women and children, after heart disease and strokes.[i] By significantly reducing the air pollution and carbon emissions associated with cooking, our induction cookstoves program provides a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to traditional methods. The use of these stoves also completely eliminates the instances of fire-related accidents during cooking.

MEC clients sit in front of a wall covered in soot from a traditional ‘chulha’

However, it is the social impact of our carbon intervention that sets the MEC program apart. Our recent conversations with some clients in Bhathat village, Maharajganj district, near Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, India, demonstrated some remarkable co-benefits of the program to the women microentrepreneurs:

Kanchan Pal is delighted with the money she saves every month by cooking on an induction cookstove

Gita Gupta spends more time on her microenterprises now

Pavitra Nisar’s husband helps her with domestic cooking, allowing her more free time to use as she pleases

Community building and personal development: The women reported an exciting development: using video tutorials on YouTube to learn new dishes to cook on the induction stoves. The women share innovative dishes and recipes they try with each other, enriching their social interactions. They reported a marked sense of personal accomplishment in keeping pace with modern technology like electric cooking and using the internet to learn new recipes.

MEC's clean cooking program is not just a solution to the environmental and health crises associated with traditional cooking methods; it is a transformative initiative that empowers women, enhances their economic prospects, promotes significant improvements in health, and fosters gender and social equity in underserved communities. The success stories of women like Kanchan, Gita, and Pavitra highlight the transformative potential of clean cooking solutions, showing how technological innovations can catalyze broader social change. As we continue to build programs to navigate the transition to clean energy in our efforts towards climate mitigation, we are committed to ensuring that marginalized groups remain at the forefront of this change.

[i] [i] https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2024/07/12/why-cooking-causes-4m-premature-deaths-a-year

How Induction-Based Cooking Can Help Reduce the Drudgery of the Summer Heatwave for Women and their Families

Making cooking environments safer for rural women in India

By Nitisha Agrawal, Director, Social Impact, MicroEnergy Credits

20th August 2024

As per a recent report - ‘The scorching divide: How extreme heat inflames gender inequalities in health and income’ published by The Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation[i] In India, the number of women dying annually due to heat is projected to double, reaching 73,500 by 2050. While the report does not point specifically to the drudgery faced by women due to rudimentary cooking practices using fire food and biomass, much has been said about the uncomfortable, almost unbearable cooking conditions these practices create.

The report points out that presently, 27,000 women in India die each year due to heat-related excess mortality. While the women are exposed to extreme heat for all outdoor activities including paid and unpaid labour, cooking through traditional stoves further exacerbates their exposure to heat.

Several factors add to what could be termed as heat-related issues from the lens of the cooking scenario - direct exposure to flames, intense smoke, and soot that stays in the cooking area long after the food is cooked, increased instances of skin burns, longer hours to collect firewood as one’s efficiency is at an all-time low, and longer hours to fetch water due to drying water sources are among the obvious factors.

That extreme heat affects physical and mental health is a known fact, and the report highlights that “February 2023 was India's hottest February since 1901, and July 2023 broke records as the hottest July on Earth. Women are vulnerable to extreme heat due to physiological differences, limited access to healthcare, and increased risk of gender-based violence.”

However, the good news is that several new technologies and innovations could well have the solution to help reduce the heat factor in these women's cooking areas. Induction-based cooking is surely one of the most efficient and promising ways forward.

Based on my recent experience with MicroEnergy Credits, I had a chance to meet almost 25 women who have been using induction-based cookstoves for most of their cooking requirements. We met these women in their homes between March and April. Based on temperature records, some of those days had been recorded as the hottest days (29th April, Nalanda district of Bihar recorded well over 40 degrees daytime temperature in some parts).

The one differentiating factor that stood out immediately was that their cooking space did not feel as hot as compared to homes using traditional cooking methods. The absence of smoke and flame-related heat made their cooking environment bearable and comfortable. Most of these women shared that they find cooking on induction stoves convenient and easy. As opposed to traditional cooking methods using biomass, not being exposed to smoke and flame-related heat can prevent them from direct health issues like extreme exhaustion, giddiness, headache, respiratory illness, and heat-related fever.

MEC through its field partner network has been instrumental in bringing these induction cookstoves to over 1,30,000 households in the first year of its program which is a stupendous achievement given the largeness of this problem statement.

As the grid infrastructure and power connectivity continue to improve across the villages in India, induction-based cooking can play a pivotal role in preventing several issues related to rudimentary cooking practices including the health and well-being of women.

MEC is committed to strengthening the user experience through its partners and helping reduce barriers to adopting these new and improved technologies like induction-based cooking.

[i] https://onebillionresilient.org/extreme-heat-inflames-gender-inequalities/

A Better Cooking Environment for Rural Indian Kitchens

Small but significant steps taken by MicroEnergy Credits’ induction cookstove carbon program

By Nitisha Agrawal, Director, Social Impact, MicroEnergy Credits

7th August 2024

That I’ll get to see an induction cook stove in a small home in Samastipur, Bihar along with the same old facets of an Indian village life, has been a fascinating first experience. These homes are still lined up with walls of dried cow dung and rudimentary structures but one of their cooking options is an induction-based stove, something that even I don’t have in my kitchen currently.  In my 8th year as a practitioner of access to clean energy opportunities for the most marginal sections of our society, observing the use of induction cookstoves feels like a quantum leap.

I got this opportunity with MicroEnergy Credits (MEC) as they are currently rolling out a unique and first-of-its-kind induction cook stove clean cooking carbon program. Traveling to the state of Bihar, we made our way to Hasanpur in Samastipur District. Hasanpur is known for its sugar mills and one would assume that a large part of the population in this block would find employment in these mills. But there is more to it when we go deeper into the villages and meet the women.

MEC’s differentiated model of last-mile connectivity resides in its partnership with women’s financial inclusion organizations across the footprints of India. This makes the model not only scalable but also consistently dynamic. By its definition of purpose, ‘microfinance serves as a cornerstone for financial inclusion and grassroots development in India’. By providing the marginalized sections of society with access to credit and financial services, it has contributed to poverty alleviation, women empowerment, and rural development.

Now consider this powerful tool to provide opportunities for clean energy technologies. While most models grapple with achieving scale, MEC effectively uses this platform to reach lakhs of households with distributed technologies like induction cookstoves, improved cookstoves, solar lights, water purifiers, and others.

Our hosts for this visit were one of MEC’s field partners working for women’s financial inclusion, which has a robust footprint in this region and other parts of India. I could start to feel the power of this narrative by listening and interacting with women who are part of this universe. I attended a ‘women’s center collection’ meeting with our partner’s field team and realized that these women not only have taken their first steps towards empowerment but are better informed of their opportunities in life. Making decisions about accessing finance, what type of finance, using digital payment methods, handling their own money, choosing from an array of products and services offered through financial schemes, getting together regularly and talking about their home situations with a lot more confidence, felt like a move in the right direction.

In this meeting, we asked the women about their experience using an induction cookstove.  While some of them are still learning how to use the stove to its full potential, their initial experience seemed positive and exciting to some extent. Expression of excitement emerges from the ease of use of these stoves, and perhaps how quickly one can make a dish or boil water or even milk.

‘Click of a button’, and the cookstove is in use. Juxtaposing this ease against the smokiness of firewood-based cooking where it takes several minutes to get the fire going, use of a firestarter like plastic or kerosene and then subsequent and continuous fumes while the woman is cooking and even beyond that (as the smoke stays in the environment for a long time).

This makes me think of the mobile phone- the telecommunication revolution in rural India with the images of old grandparents being connected to their grandchildren first through voice and then through videos and now the digital payments revolution. The context may be different, but the emotion feels similar.

One may argue that induction-based cooking is drastically different from traditional cooking methods and so its impact on cooking output, but meeting these women made me believe that if given the right inputs and by continuously having conversations with them, they will choose what's right for them. And from what they shared; the taste is just what it needs to be.

What is also very interesting in this MEC program is that it considers both traditional cookstoves using firewood and LPG as baseline fuels. This shows the well-researched and also conservative approach of the organization making sure that there are no false assumptions and estimations as far as user behavior is concerned.

Now in these homes in Bihar and other states, there is an interplay of three types of cooking tools: traditional cookstoves, LPG, and induction. The scope of this article is not about usage percentages and the actual MRV process followed by program developers but MEC’s approach takes this into account by making sure that only the most conservative data is used. And looking at the cooking scenario in homes using induction, there is definitely less smoke, much less drudgery associated with fuel food collection, and critical saving of the woman’s time. This is an impactful transition towards cleaner kitchens and if we continue to motivate women to increase their adoption of using more of cleaner cooking options, they will make the right choice.

Like any other new technology, there is initial hesitation attached to the use of induction cook stoves, like a TV, a mixer grinder, a microwave oven, and even induction in urban homes. These aspects of slight hesitation can easily be removed by demonstrations, sharing of experiences, and sometimes just by talking. This is another differentiator within the MEC model where the field partners are present in the lives of their clients for several years through some kind of financial service. Naturally, the relationship will move beyond that of a cookstove, but it will always allow the client to come back in case of doubts or problems.

If we can support the user community with continuous capacity building and training through the field partners, then this will perhaps lead to deeper adoption of these technologies.

After the collection meeting, we visited the homes of some of the users of induction cookstoves where again the dominant thread was ease of use and very visible saving of time. Yes, there are infrastructural gaps related to power connectivity and the presence of extension boards, but these will improve over time with concentrated efforts by the government and other developmental agencies.

An impromptu cooking demonstration done during our field visit helped erase certain doubts in the minds of women who were hesitant to use the induction cookstoves.

Observing the expressions of some of these women and even men, I felt that there is an underlying emotion of aspiration through the use of these induction-based cookstoves. As if the household has moved up the ladder. Yes, to be able to use induction-based cooking for some of the cooking needs is a huge movement up the energy ladder and this is indeed the underlying objective of MEC’s program. Another interesting dynamic in favor of this technology is the positive response from the younger generation. We saw that in homes where there are youth and children, there is better adoption. Not only are the youth using it themselves to make a quick snack like Maggi noodles but these cookstoves are turning out to be very useful in making early morning tiffins for school-going children. As per MEC’s current monitoring, women have reported saving 1.10 hours per household per week, which is about 10 to 12 minutes each day.

Given an option, any woman would like to save 10 minutes of her time daily and escape from the drudgery of a smoke-filled cooking environment.

MEC through its field partner network has been instrumental in bringing these induction cookstoves to over 1,30,000 households in the first year of its program which is a stupendous achievement given the magnitude of this problem statement.

Even though these women are choosing the induction for some of their cooking requirements regularly, they are still choosing the most advanced and clean technology available in this space and everyone involved in this transition should be extremely proud of this achievement.

MEC’s unique program methodology uses metered technology to track the use of these induction cookstoves to measure the energy used for cooking. This also means that the data is collected digitally, resides on a cloud-based system, and ensures that there is no manipulation of the numbers. The meter will only take the readings if the induction is in use and then record the energy spent during cooking through induction. This process of data collection once again is a step in the right direction as this metered technology can be scaled up to each cooking device over time, much like recording the TRP or viewership ratings through a chip for our TV viewing preferences.

While this visit to Hasanpur in Samastipur district opened up an opportunity to witness a transition unfolding in the homes here, I am extremely optimistic and curious to understand how induction-based cooking is impacting the lives of women and families in other parts of India. Globally, there is much emphasis on induction-based cooking, and rightly so, but programs like MEC’s are also allowing the users to choose what may seem the current best option for them by financial empowerment of making the purchase decision and not free distribution.

With over 1.3 lakh users of induction cookstoves currently under this program, the numbers are likely to go up substantially over time as one can see the demand for it. And when there is a pull for any technology, we have seen how quickly the penetration happens.

On MEC’s part, it is committed to strengthening the user experience through its partners and helping reduce barriers to adopting these new and improved technologies leading to the overall well-being and empowerment of women in rural India.

Lighting the Way: Women's Empowerment through Climate Finance in Action

A current MicroEnergy Credits client and a future one show the power of women’s empowerment climate finance.

By Garima Dawer, Director, Communications, MicroEnergy Credits

1st August 2024

I recently visited a new area where we at MEC hope to expand our clean energy program, and there I met with an inspirational woman, Tania Bibi.

Tania Bibi is a hardworking young mother to a school-going daughter in Barrackpore, near Kolkata in West Bengal, India. Like all mothers, Tania has hopes and dreams for her child, but her days are spent in drudgery, cooking on a traditional chulha surrounded by smoke, and her evenings and nights in an almost dark home. Her daughter studies by the meagre light of a kerosene wick lamp after dark because their home has no other source of lighting, managing the bare minimum she needs to, because the smell and smoke from the lamp mean she cannot sit next to it for too long without damaging her eyes and lungs.

I am so excited that MEC’s program will introduce solar lighting, improved cookstoves, and water purification in her region. It is an honor to help these inspiring women offer more to their families and children. Indeed, through our program, Tania Bibi will spend less to achieve clean and modern energy than she currently spends on traditional fuel. When Tania accesses clean energy solutions like an improved cookstove for cooking, and solar lights to light up her home so her child can study after dark, she and her family will achieve freedom from continued health risks due to exposure to harmful smoke, as well as from the high probability of Tania’s daughter dropping out of school and limiting her access to future opportunities for development. When a child drops out of school, there is a strong likelihood that another generation will remain in poverty.

As I return to my desk to get up to speed on generative AI, I am boggled by the contrast in how our society allocates wealth. There are still millions and millions of women, their children, and their families in Asia and Africa still living in the dark - cooking, heating, and lighting their homes with polluting fossil fuels, unable to access simple clean energy to improve their daily lives. This lack of access has a far-reaching impact on several human development factors such as a long and healthy life, access to education and a decent standard of living. India, where MEC is determined to create a high social impact through its projects, ranks a dismal 134 out of 191 in the Global Human Development Index, and Kenya, another MEC project geography, ranks 152nd.

Our company has had the privilege to work with some incredible corporations that have funded climate action. But this is a small portion of what is needed.

The integrity conversation has led to terrific tools to increase climate impact, like the ICVCM and the VCMI. But while the debate has raged, it has also delayed carbon funding, with billions of dollars earmarked for climate action lying untapped in corporations, resulting in organizations like MEC needing to scale back their plans. I have personally witnessed the urgency to resume this scale-up and reach women like Tania Bibi.

We need more corporations to commit to carbon funding so we can support more women like Tania Bibi, who are ready to create healthier homes and a cleaner climate.

Now meet Uttama Barik, another inspirational woman I met on my travels. She is an end-user of our clean cooking carbon program in Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, and a micro-entrepreneur who uses the induction cookstove bought as part of the program to make snacks she sells to tea stalls and student hostels. The induction cookstove has allowed Uttama to spend more hours cooking in a safe, smoke-free environment and supplement her family income that is now being used to fund her daughter’s diploma program in computer science. This one step of clean energy adoption has had a far-reaching effect – Uttama’s family’s health has improved, and the additional income has provided her daughter with a chance to enter the technical workforce, potentially lifting her family up the economic ladder.

Uttama’s is one of the many success stories of women positively impacted through our clean cooking program GS12066- Microfinance for Clean Cooking Product Lines - India. Success stories like hers are made possible only through climate finance, a critical tool that holds the potential to catalyze transformative change on a global scale.

Each dollar spent buying carbon credits from a high-integrity, high-quality project developer like MicroEnergy Credits goes ten times further, not only supporting critical climate action and creating livelihoods for clean energy product distributors and demonstrators but generating a host of co-benefits like improved health and access to education with the potential to change the lives of entire families, communities, and countries.

And each client positively impacted when corporations fund development through climate finance is more than a number. It’s an individual, a child, a family, and a community that benefits from meaningful change. By investing in climate finance, corporations not only mitigate the risks associated with climate change but also pave the way for a more equitable and sustainable future for generations to come.

Even as nations grapple with the consequences of rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and environmental degradation, all is not lost, and we are not powerless. There is near-term action that climate-aware corporations can take. Climate heroes like Tania Bibi and her young daughter are ready to improve the climate as well as their lives, as Uttama Barik and her daughter have been able to do.

MEC Africa Program: All You Need to Know

MicroEnergy Credits – Microfinance for Solar Lamps & Efficient Cookstoves

Grouped Project under Verra

In line with our commitment to transparency and integrity, we are providing a comprehensive list of all the information about our Africa clean energy program here.

This initiative aims to ensure that stakeholders have access to program details and documentation in an easy-to-use way.

In the rural areas in Kenya, the predominant means of cooking are traditional cookstoves that use charcoal or wood as fuel. The smoke and fumes from these inefficient stoves contribute heavily to indoor air pollution, and affect human health. In rural areas of Kenya there is either no grid connection or frequent power outages and low voltage so rural households must use kerosene for indoor lighting, which also contributes to indoor air pollution.

Under the project activity, MEC works with project partners to develop a successful and diversified clean energy-lending program. The clean energy program addresses typical barriers for low-income clients including education, price, finance, and supply and aftersales service. MEC trains project partners to implement the clean energy lending program, as well as a robust and transparent carbon credit monitoring and tracking system to quantify and record the volume of carbon emission reductions created through the clean energy program.

Audited Documents

Additionality:

Over-crediting

Co-benefits of the program

MEC India Clean Energy Program (GS11450): All You Need to Know

MICROENERGY CREDITS – MICROFINANCE FOR CLEAN ENERGY PRODUCT LINES – INDIA

PoA ID GS 11450

In line with our commitment to transparency and integrity, we are providing a comprehensive list of all the information about our India clean energy carbon program here.

This initiative aims to ensure that stakeholders have access to program details and documentation in an easy-to-use way.

The program promotes three broad categories of Clean Energy Products (“CEP”):

Comprehensive information about the program:

I. Audited Documents:

II. Additionality:

III. Over-crediting:

IV. Co-benefits of the program: Fostering community empowerment

MEC Africa Program: Co-Benefits

Fostering Community Empowerment - Paving the Way Towards a Sustainable Future

MicroEnergy Credits (MEC) programs, backed by carbon finance, play a crucial role in bridging the gap between clean energy solutions and communities in need. Employing a holistic approach, MEC addresses challenges encompassing energy drudgery, awareness, pricing, finance, and after-sales services, ensuring a sustained impact on the communities it serves.

The comprehensive strategy of MEC's Africa programs makes a substantial contribution to community development. By significantly reducing indoor air pollution and providing access to sustainable energy for cooking and lighting, the program addresses the fundamental needs of low-income households. Strategic partnerships with microfinance institutions facilitate upfront credit facilities for clean energy technologies, ensuring affordability through manageable EMIs. Furthermore, the program creates employment opportunities for local youth, fostering sustainable development in the communities it serves.

Contributing to Sustainable Development Goals while addressing barriers for low-income clients under MEC Projects in Africa

Within the dynamic landscape of its projects in Africa, MEC not only strives to contribute to the broader canvas of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but also successfully addresses the unique challenges faced by low-income households. This multipronged model forms the crux of MEC's mission in Africa.

MEC is committed to not only providing clean energy solutions and clean water (significantly contributing to SDGs 6 & 7) but also actively addressing the barriers faced by low-income clients. Comprehensive training programs empower MEC’s project partners to effectively implement clean energy lending, supported by a robust carbon credit monitoring system for transparency and accountability. These innovative strategies and multifaceted approaches employed by MEC’s projects in Africa have been striving to achieve the twin objectives of sustainable development and inclusivity in the African context since 2013, impacting 8 million low-income households.

MEC strategically employs carbon finance to drive sustainable change, focusing on:

Carbon finance is allocated to drive education and awareness campaigns among rural and low-income communities. This ensures that communities are not only aware of the benefits of clean energy but also actively engage in adopting solutions that help them shift away from traditional fossil fuels to improved clean energy technologies. This action aligns the end user’s perspective towards the low carbon technology and contributes to SDG-7(Affordable and Clean Energy) and 13 (Climate Action).

MEC dedicates resources to training and capacity-building programs for micro-entrepreneurs and staff members of microfinance institutions (MFIs). Each training program developed by MEC is tailored to the specific needs of partner organizations. These programs aim to improve skills, facilitate effective communication with end-users, and ensure the rigorous use of technology, along with prompt after-sales services, and scaling-up of the program in the long run. This action aligns the end user’s perspective towards the low carbon technology and contributes to SDG-7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 13 (Climate Action), SDG-8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

MEC recognizes the importance of local businesses, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and channels funds to support sales of clean energy products. This not only boosts local economies but also creates a self-sustaining cycle of clean energy adoption. The activities under the program provide opportunities for skilled employment in rural areas and significantly contribute to SDG-8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Carbon finance is utilized to provide after-sales service and maintenance, ensuring that the end-users can maximize the benefits from the continuous use of clean energy products.  This solidifies the community’s trust and commitment towards the adoption and consistent use of clean energy technologies which significantly contributes to SDG-7 and SDG-13.

MEC maintains a sustained relationship with the end-user, with regular monitoring of product usage being an important part of MEC’s carbon program. MEC works with microfinance institutions which typically meet with clients every week or fortnight. These meetings serve the purpose of reinforcing the behavioural change needed for the sustained efficient adoption of the clean energy product. Moreover, these meetings create a timely opportunity for users to access after-sales service for their products. The action promptly contributes to SDG-7 and SDG-13.

Carbon finance is strategically used to lower interest or principal costs for clients, making clean energy solutions more affordable to low-income communities. This lowering of the upfront cost is supported through carbon finance promotes widespread adoption and significantly contributes to SDG-1.

Harmony between MEC projects in Africa and the Governments of Kenya and Uganda’s welfare schemes and programs

In addition to aligning with the SDGs, MEC's Africa program has broadened its influence by supporting various schemes and social security programs initiated by the Governments of Kenya and Uganda. The following is a list of schemes and programs to which the MEC program has contributed:

Sl. NoScheme/Program NameCountryAboutContribution of MEC’s Program to the Schemes/Program
1Last Mile Connectivity ProgramKenyaThe project is targeted at benefitting approximately 314,200 non-commercial customers (households) resulting in electricity access to an additional 1.5 million KenyansBy implementing solar home lighting systems, MEC ensures sustainable access to electricity, enabling low-income households to engage in productive activities after nightfall
2National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP)KenyaThe National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP), 2018-2022, is a five-year plan that helps Kenya adapt to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissionsMEC MFI carbon program in Kenya is reducing GHG emission by providing low carbon technologies among the under-privileged communities.
3Climate Change Act, 2016Kenyamainstream climate change responses and formulate program and plans to enhance the resilience and adaptive capacity of human and ecological systems to the impacts of climate change;The MEC MFI carbon program in Kenya is instrumental in establishing an ecosystem for the adoption of low-carbon technologies within underprivileged communities.
4Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP)KenyaKYEOP is a transformational project that aims to empower and uplift the well-being of the youth in Kenya by equipping them with essential training, internship and business grant opportunities.The MEC model educates and empowers microentrepreneurs, creating a skilled workforce in Africa. Additionally, MEC provides training for MFI staff, enhancing their skills in sales, marketing, and the service and maintenance of low carbon technologies.
5Youth Livelihood Program (YLP)  Ugandato empower the target youth to harness their socio-economic potential and increase self-employment opportunities and income levelsThe MEC model educates and empowers microentrepreneurs, creating a skilled workforce in Africa. Additionally, MEC provides training for MFI staff, enhancing their skills in sales, marketing, and the service and maintenance of low carbon technologies.
6Rural Electrification Agency (REA) initiatives Promotion of renewable energy sources  UgandaThe implementation of the policy objectives will positively respond to the various policy instruments and programs, which address poverty, catalyze industrialization, and protect the environment.The MEC MFI carbon program in Uganda is instrumental in establishing an ecosystem for the adoption of low-carbon technologies within underprivileged communities.
7National Climate Change Policy & Action PlanUgandaTo ensure a harmonized approach towards a climate-resilient and low-carbon development path for sustainable development in UgandaThe MEC MFI carbon program in Uganda is instrumental in establishing an ecosystem for the adoption of low-carbon technologies within underprivileged communities and supporting the national climate change policy and action plan.

MEC seeks to empower every community by providing access to affordable and innovative clean energy solutions, including solar lighting systems, improved biomass cookstoves, and water purification systems.

With the aim to create a world free of both poverty and climate change, MEC leverages carbon finance through its programs, enabling rural and low-income communities to take control of their clean energy future. MEC's projects in India showcase collaboration, innovative financing, and a comprehensive approach to empowerment to bring enduring transformation for communities in their journey out of poverty.

In working towards a sustainable and eco-friendly future, Micro Energy Credits (MEC) is contributing through transformative projects in Kenya and Uganda. The program supported by Carbon Finance, play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between clean energy solutions and communities-in-need. MEC's holistic approach addresses challenges related to education, pricing, finance, and aftersales services, ensuring a comprehensive impact on the communities it serves.

MEC's African program embodies a comprehensive approach aligned with multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By significantly reducing indoor air pollution, it actively contributes to SDG-13. Additionally, providing access to sustainable energy for cooking and lighting addresses the fundamental needs of low-income households, making a positive impact on SDG-1. MEC forms strategic partnerships with Microfinance Institutions to ensure upfront credit facilities for clean energy technologies, supporting affordability through manageable EMIs and contributing to SDG-7. Furthermore, the program plays a vital role in generating local employment opportunities, making a meaningful contribution to SDG-8.

Addressing Barriers for Low-Income Clients:

MEC goes beyond providing clean energy solutions by actively addressing the typical barriers faced by low-income clients. Through comprehensive training programs, project partners are equipped to implement clean energy lending effectively. This includes the establishment of a robust carbon credit monitoring and tracking system to ensure transparency and accountability.

Bridging Gaps through Client Education:

MEC places a strong emphasis on client education to empower communities with information about clean energy solutions. By fostering a deeper understanding of the benefits of clean energy, MEC not only provides a sustainable solution but also brings about a behavioral change towards adopting these technologies.

Utilizing Carbon Finance for Sustainable Impact:

The innovative use of carbon finance is at the core of MEC's projects in Africa, amplifying the impact of clean energy initiatives. Here's how MEC strategically employs carbon finance to drive sustainable change:

Client Education and Marketing:

Carbon finance is allocated to drive client education, awareness campaigns and marketing efforts. This ensures that communities are not only aware of the benefits of clean energy but also actively engage in adopting solutions that help them shift away from traditional fossil fuels to improved clean energy technologies.

Training and Capacity Building:

MEC dedicates resources to training and capacity building programs for micro-entrepreneurs and staff members of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs). Each training program developed by MEC is tailored to the specific needs of partner organizations. These programs aim to improve skills, facilitate effective communication with end-users, and ensure the rigorous use of technology, along with prompt after-sales services, scaling-up, of the program in the long-run.

Lending Funds to Local SMEs:

Recognizing the importance of local businesses especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), MEC channels funds to support sales of clean energy product. This not only boosts local economies but also creates a self-sustaining cycle of clean energy adoption.

Aftersales Service and Maintenance:

Carbon finance is utilized to provide aftersales service and maintenance, ensuring optimal functionality of the clean energy products. This solidifies community trust and commitment towards adoption and consistent use of clean energy technologies, making the projects more effective in the long run.

Lowering Interest or Principal Costs:

Carbon finance is strategically used to lower interest or principal costs for clients, making clean energy solutions more affordable to low-income communities. This financial cost cutting supported through carbon finance promotes widespread adoption, furthering MEC's mission of creating a sustainable and resilient future.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targeted under MEC’s projects in Africa

Climate Action (Goal 13): The emissions generated by the water purifier are lower compared to boiling water on a standard stove. Likewise, the substitution of kerosene lanterns with SLS results in decreased emissions, leading to a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

No Poverty (Goal 1): The water purification systems and SLS offer efficient and environmentally friendly access to the basic essential services.

Affordable and Clean Energy (Goal 7): Project provides access to affordable and cleaner technology for drinking safe water i.e. operational WPS and Solar lighting Systems for lightning purpose.

Decent Work and Economic Growth (Goal 8): The project generates local employment for manufacturing, distribution, and maintenance of CEPs.

The overarching vision of MEC's projects in Africa is to enable the installation of solar lighting systems, improved biomass cookstoves and water purification devices throughout the country. By leveraging carbon finance in a multifaceted approach, MEC and its project partners aim to transform communities by providing them clean energy solutions and at the same time empowering them to build a sustainable and resilient future.

MEC's projects in Africa exemplify how collaborative efforts, innovative financing models, and a holistic approach can bring about tangible and lasting change. As we navigate the path towards a greener tomorrow, MEC’s projects pave the way for a future where clean energy is a universally accessible and affordable. Through education, strategic financing, and community empowerment, MEC showcases the potential for a sustainable and brighter future for all.

Image Credit: Freepik

MEC India Clean Energy Program- Project Additionality: Common Practice Analysis

Bolstering the Integrity of Carbon Credits

The concept of common practice in additionality is a critical component in bolstering confidence in carbon offsets and their integrity. MicroEnergy Credits follows a robust process to ensure that all its carbon projects are strictly additional and not common practice.

Common practice analysis helps determine the extent to which a technology is business as usual i.e. has already diffused in a sector and region. Distributed clean energy products in India have been largely successfully deployed through carbon finance. Several programs by multilateral banks, government initiatives, etc. have had limited success for various reasons, elaborated upon extensively later in the article.

In the context of energy access and clean cooking/drinking water/lighting services in rural India, challenges and opportunities converge to shape the landscape. About 840[i] million in India fully or partially rely on traditional biomass for cooking, contributing to indoor air pollution, fire hazards, and adverse health impacts. Limited access to modern and clean energy sources, such as electricity and clean cooking technologies, remains a pressing issue.

The applicable geographic areas for interventions in rural areas of India are characterized by diverse challenges including economic constraints, lack of infrastructure, and geographic remoteness. Many households face challenges in adopting clean cooking technologies due to high upfront costs, limited awareness, and insufficient supply of products.

MEC’s Clean Energy Program reduces emissions by facilitating a transition from conventional fossil-fuel technologies to more energy-efficient alternatives. Collaborating with our partner microfinance institutions, MEC has identified products that meet the specific requirements of each community. These products include solar lighting systems, improved cookstoves (ICS), and water purifiers.

In the period preceding the project's commencement, there was a lack of infrastructure and supportive conditions[ii] for the adoption of renewable technologies such as solar home lighting systems, improved cookstoves (ICS), and water purifiers. The community that the project aimed to assist had limited awareness about these cleaner technologies. Further, the essential products were largely unavailable in the local market, making it challenging for the targeted population to access and benefit from these sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions. Besides that, there was no financing[iii] available on the mentioned products, The upfront cost of these clean technologies was high for a low-income remotely located household. MEC, partnering with MFIs, sought to address these gaps by creating awareness, establishing a supportive ecosystem, enabling financial assistance in the form of microfinance loans, and making these technologies more accessible to the community, thereby contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious way of living.

Projects implemented without carbon finance

Numerous initiatives by the Government of India (GOI) and multilateral organizations have focused on the implementation of biomass cookstoves. Unfortunately, many of these efforts faced challenges and were largely unsuccessful due to a lack of a comprehensive ecosystem development approach. Most of these programs involved the free distribution of improved cookstoves among low-income households. The key issues contributing to their failure included an insufficient emphasis on behavioral change among end-users, limited access to repair and maintenance services, the inadequate establishment of local supply chains, and the provision of technologies not well-suited to local food habits and cooking styles.

Here are a few examples of past programs initiated by the GOI:

Name of the ProgramObjectivesPeriodNumber of stoves distributed
National Program on Improved Cookstoves (NPIC)To disseminate improved cookstoves on a mass scale, through various partners, including state nodal agencies, NGOs, and self-employed workers1983- 200235 million[iv]
National Biomass Cookstoves Initiative (NBCI)To enhance technical capacity, strengthening research and development for ICS2009NA
Unnat Chulha AbhiyanTo promote improved biomass cookstoves across all states and union territories20142.4 million

A study conducted[v] jointly by J-PAL Global, Harvard University, and the University of Chicago on evaluating the long-term impacts of improved cooking stoves in India revealed significant insights into the sustainable outcomes and effectiveness of these state-run cookstove programs. The study was conducted in Odisha, India, in partnership with NGO Gram Vikas, to assess the long-term health and environmental impacts of an improved cookstove program. It was found that while many households accepted the stoves, regular usage was low and declined over time. The stoves did not substantially reduce exposure to harmful pollutants, leading to limited health improvements. The study suggests that real-world conditions significantly affect the success of such state-run interventions, emphasizing the need for testing technologies in realistic settings before massive-scale implementation.

Likewise, a research paper titled "Piloting Improved Cookstoves in India"[vi], advocates for a social marketing strategy. The approach, based on the 4Ps (promotion, product, price, and place), is recommended to stimulate the adoption of improved cookstoves. The authors emphasize the necessity of a holistic strategy that addresses communication, pricing, and placement considerations. To surpass the current low levels of adoption, the article suggests a comprehensive field-testing methodology, exploring various combinations of social marketing interventions. The study is executed in rural India, concentrating on areas with diverse socio-political and biophysical contexts.

Another academic publication by the University of Iowa, USA and Cornell College, USA titled "Why Have Improved Cook-Stove Initiatives in India Failed?“[vii] argues that rural women in India, who are the primary users of cookstoves, do not give priority to improved cookstoves. Meeting the priorities of these women would necessitate substantial investment to challenge established and influential social practices.

A joint research study[viii] “Who is willing to pay for solar lamps in rural India?” by VIT Bhopal University, India, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India, and the Boston College School of Social Work, USA underscores the need to increase awareness in the surveyed states, particularly for solar home systems (SHS) and solar water pumps. Given the minimal duration of available electricity, especially during dark hours in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh states, the research suggests that solar products can serve as a meaningful solution to address these gaps. Recommendations include promoting awareness through various programs to generate significant interest in solar energy products, ultimately increasing willingness to pay among the population.

Overcoming barriers to clean energy adoption with MEC’s carbon funding

There is also evidence to suggest that giveaway programs (i.e. where clean energy products are given for free) are not successful for several reasons, e.g. limited to no focus on end-user awareness, lack of after-sales service, and no capacity development at an individual or institutional level.  

The MEC program is not common practice as it utilizes carbon finance to overcome challenges, empowering microentrepreneurs to invest in clean energy products. Initially, MEC collaborates with the microfinance institution to devise an appealing clean energy product offering for its microfinance client base, addressing obstacles such as education, pricing, financing, and the availability of supplies and after-sales service. Subsequently, MEC provides training to the microfinance institution for the implementation of the clean energy-lending program. This training encompasses aspects like business planning, capacity building, marketing and awareness campaigns for client education, and supply chain processes. MEC establishes a robust and transparent system for monitoring and tracking carbon credits, quantifying, and documenting the number of emissions reduced by the clean energy program. Lastly, the carbon finance is employed to expand and sustain the clean energy program through activities such as:

The common practice analysis conducted in the context of MicroEnergy Credits' carbon programs in India underscores the pivotal role of additional practices in ensuring the integrity of carbon credits. MEC's approach, leveraging carbon finance to overcome barriers to clean energy adoption, stands out as a distinctive and effective strategy, addressing challenges ranging from lack of awareness and infrastructure to financing constraints. By integrating microfinance institutions, client education, and comprehensive monitoring systems, MEC not only reduces carbon emissions but also establishes a sustainable and environmentally conscious pathway for rural communities, thereby contributing significantly to the broader goals of carbon mitigation and sustainable

[i] https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/clean-cooking-india-challenges-solutions_0.pdf

[ii] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S221462962030116X

[iii] https://shaktifoundation.in/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/3FINAL-COOKING.pdf

[iv] https://energypedia.info/images/f/f7/Dr._Parveen_Dhamija_%28MNRE%29_-_Unnat_Chulha_Abhiyan.pdf

[v] https://www.ideasforindia.in/topics/environment/improved-cooking-stoves-in-india-evaluating-long-run-impacts.html

[vi] Jessica J. Lewis, Vasundhara Bhojvaid, Nina Brooks, Ipsita Das, Marc A. Jeuland, Omkar Patange & Subhrendu K. Pattanayak (2015) Piloting Improved Cookstoves in India, Journal of Health Communication, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10810730.2014.994243

[vii] Why Have Improved Cook-Stove Initiatives in India Failed? - ScienceDirect

[viii] Who is willing to pay for solar lamps in rural India?- ScienceDirect

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MEC Clean Energy Program- Project Additionality: Overcoming Socio-Economic Barriers

Bolstering the Integrity of Carbon Credits

The concept of additionality is a critical component in bolstering confidence in the integrity of carbon credits. MicroEnergy Credits follows a robust process to ensure that all its carbon projects are strictly additional and have a high social impact.

In the Guide to Carbon Offset Utilization, the concept of "quality or integrity" of an offset revolves around the confidence of the stakeholders in the ability of credit to fulfill the emission reduction requirements. The principle of additionality is crucial for boosting trust in carbon credits and safeguarding their integrity. In the context of crediting mechanisms, "additionality" refers to the notion that emission reductions or removals resulting from a mitigation activity are considered additional only if the activity would not have taken place without the additional incentive provided by carbon credits. Essentially, an additional project signifies that it would only be financially viable with carbon funding from market-based mechanisms. To quality as genuine carbon offsets, the reductions from projects must be "additional" compared to what would happen at business as usual. All projects registered under widely accepted greenhouse gas (GHG) project standardsadhere to the guidelines for evaluating and demonstrating additionality as established by the respective GHG crediting programs.

Socio-Economic Barriers Analysis for Proof of Additionality of MEC’s Clean Energy Program

  1. Barriers faced by low-income households to adopting clean energy technologies in India & Africa

Low-income households in India and Africa face several barriers to adopting clean energy technologies. These barriers are economic, social, and infrastructural. Here are some common challenges:

Addressing these barriers requires a comprehensive approach involving government initiatives, financial institutions, awareness campaigns, and community engagement to make clean energy technologies more accessible and attractive to low-income households in India.

In India, MEC's Carbon Program is closing gaps by designing projects that empower low-income households to select the most suitable and dependable clean technologies, supported by carbon finance.

2. Barriers faced by micro finance institutions to fund low-carbon technologies

Historically, a few microfinance institutions have engaged in providing microfinance for low-carbon technologies, However, challenges such as the high cost of hiring additional staff, costs related to marketing and building awareness, understanding of the products and technologies, absence of a local supply chain, concern about reputational risk, limited onward lending funds and challenge in developing products for consumptive loans have always tied the scope of growth. The MEC has introduced a program aimed at helping microfinance institutions overcome these hurdles.

Use of carbon funding to overcome barriers to clean energy adoption

MEC utilizes carbon finance to overcome the barriers - from investing in awareness programs by training MFI partners to empowering microentrepreneurs by accessing loans for the adoption of products and supporting MFI partners to provide aftersales service to customers. MEC begins by collaborating with microfinance institutions to devise an attractive clean energy product offering for its microfinance client base, addressing obstacles such as lack of education, high pricing, access to financing, and delivery and after-sales services. Subsequently, MEC trains the microfinance institutions for the implementation of the clean energy-lending program. This includes business planning, capacity building, and the execution of marketing, awareness/ education, and supply chain processes. MEC has established a robust and transparent system for monitoring and tracking carbon credits, quantifying, and documenting the amount of emission reductions generated by the clean energy projects. Lastly, the carbon finance is employed to expand and sustain the clean energy program through activities such as:

MEC employs a rigorous methodology to guarantee that its projects exclusively benefit low-income households in rural India, who would otherwise face challenges in accessing clean energy technologies due to economic and financial obstacles. The utilization of carbon funding is instrumental to overcoming these barriers and eventually bridging the viability gap in investment decisions. Consequently, the carbon credits produced by MEC's carbon programs contribute significantly to socio-economic development and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

MEC India Clean Energy Program: Co-Benefits - Fostering Community Empowerment

Paving the Way Towards a Sustainable Future

MicroEnergy Credits (MEC) programs, backed by carbon finance, play a crucial role in bridging the gap between clean energy solutions and communities in need.

Employing a holistic approach, MEC addresses challenges encompassing energy drudgery, awareness, pricing, finance, and after-sales services, ensuring a sustained impact on the communities it serves.

The comprehensive strategy of MEC's India program makes a substantial contribution to community development. By significantly reducing indoor air pollution and providing access to sustainable energy for cooking, lighting, and clean water, the program addresses the fundamental needs of low-income households. Strategic partnerships with microfinance institutions facilitate upfront credit facilities for clean energy technologies, ensuring affordability through manageable EMIs. Furthermore, the program creates employment opportunities for local youth, fostering sustainable development in the communities it serves.

Contributing to Sustainable Development Goals while Addressing Barriers for Low-Income Clients under MEC Projects in India

Within the dynamic landscape of its projects in India, MEC not only strives to contribute to the broader canvas of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but also successfully addresses the unique challenges faced by low-income households. This multipronged model forms the crux of MEC's mission in India.

MEC is committed to not only providing clean energy solutions and clean water (significantly contributing to SDGs 6 & 7) but also actively addressing the barriers faced by low-income clients. Comprehensive training programs empower MEC’s project partners to effectively implement clean energy lending, supported by a robust carbon credit monitoring system for transparency and accountability. These innovative strategies and multifaceted approaches employed by MEC’s projects in India have been striving to achieve the twin objectives of sustainable development and inclusivity in the Indian context since 2013, impacting 8 million low-income households.

MEC strategically employs carbon finance to drive sustainable change, focusing on:

Carbon finance is allocated to drive educative awareness campaigns among rural and low-income communities. This ensures that communities are not only aware of the benefits of clean energy but also actively engage in adopting solutions that help them shift away from traditional fossil fuels to improved clean energy technologies. This action aligns the end user’s perspective towards the low carbon technology and contributes to SDG-7(Affordable and Clean Energy) and 13 (Climate Action).

MEC dedicates resources to training and capacity-building programs for micro-entrepreneurs and staff members of microfinance institutions (MFIs). Each training program developed by MEC is tailored to the specific needs of partner organizations. These programs aim to improve skills, facilitate effective communication with end-users, and ensure the rigorous use of technology, along with prompt after-sales services, and scaling-up of the program in the long run. This action aligns the end user’s perspective towards the low carbon technology and contributes to SDG-7(Affordable and Clean Energy), 13 (Climate Action), SDG-8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

MEC recognizes the importance of local businesses, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and channels funds to support sales of clean energy products. This not only boosts local economies but also creates a self-sustaining cycle of clean energy adoption. The activities under the program provide opportunities for skilled employment in rural areas and significantly contribute to SDG-8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Carbon finance is utilized to provide after-sales service and maintenance, ensuring that the end-users can maximize the benefits from the continuous use of clean energy products.  This solidifies the community’s trust and commitment towards the adoption and consistent use of clean energy technologies which significantly contributes to SDG-7 and SDG-13.

MEC maintains a sustained relationship with the end-user, with regular monitoring of product usage being an important part of MEC’s carbon program. MEC works with microfinance institutions which typically meet with clients every week or fortnight. These meetings serve the purpose of reinforcing the behavioural change needed for the sustained efficient adoption of the clean energy product. Moreover, these meetings create a timely opportunity for users to access after-sales service for their products. The action promptly contributes to SDG-7 and SDG-13.

Carbon finance is strategically used to lower interest or principal costs for clients, making clean energy solutions more affordable to low-income communities. This lowering of the upfront cost is supported through carbon finance promotes widespread adoption and significantly contributes to SDG-1.

Harmony Between MEC Projects in India and the Government of India's Welfare Schemes and Programs

In addition to aligning with the SDGs, MEC's India program has broadened its influence by supporting various schemes and social security programs initiated by the Government of India. The following is a list of schemes and programs to which MEC's India program has contributed:

 Scheme/Program NameAboutContribution of MEC’s Program to the Schemes/Program
1Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)SBM focuses on achieving universal sanitation coverage and clean water for all A prominent technology within MEC's program is the water purification system, ensuring continuous access to safe and clean drinking water
2National Solar Mission (Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission)Aims to promote the use of solar energyThe solar home lighting System is a frequently used technology within the MEC program
3UJALA (Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All)UJALA promotes the use of energy-efficient LED bulbsLED lights are part of the offering under the MEC program
4Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti YojanaReliable power supply to rural areasBy implementing solar home lighting systems, MEC ensures sustainable access to electricity, enabling low-income households to engage in productive activities after nightfall
5Skill India Mission (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana)Enhance employability of the India's youth by providing them with skill development and vocational trainingThe MEC model educates and empowers microentrepreneurs, creating a skilled workforce in rural areas. Additionally, MEC provides training for MFI staff, enhancing their skills in sales, marketing, and the service and maintenance of low carbon technologies
6Jal Jeevan MissionAccess to safe and piped water supply to all rural households in IndiaA prominent technology within MEC's program is the water purification system, ensuring continuous access to safe and clean drinking water
7Green India Mission (National Mission for a Green India)Focuses on afforestation, reforestation, and conservation of biodiversity to enhance carbon sinks, mitigate climate change, and improve environmental sustainabilityThe MEC program guarantees a decrease in carbon emissions, contributing positively to climate change mitigation and enhancing environmental sustainability. Efficient energy usage in improved cookstoves reduces the amount of firewood used in cooking, reducing deforestation
8Stand-Up IndiaPromotes entrepreneurship among women, Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs)The MEC model educates and supports micro entrepreneurs, especially women, cultivating a skilled workforce (for example: distributors of clean energy products, and clean energy leaders) in rural regions

MEC seeks to empower every community by providing access to affordable and innovative clean energy solutions, including solar lighting systems, improved biomass cookstoves, and water purification systems.

With the aim to create a world free of both poverty and climate change, MEC leverages carbon finance through its programs, enabling rural and low-income communities to take control of their clean energy future. MEC's projects in India showcase collaboration, innovative financing, and a comprehensive approach to empowerment to bring enduring transformation for communities in their journey out of poverty.