Empowering Rural Women – Scaling Up the Rocket-stove Project
Traditionally used in villages and settlements in Fiji to meet domestic energy needs, the practice of open-fire cooking relies on wood and fossil fuels. It is estimated that, on average, a family needs roughly two tons of fuel wood a year to cook three meals a day, which places a strain on economies, human well-being and the environment.
This project contributed to improving the livelihoods and health of women in rural areas of Fiji through the adoption of a new cooking method using rocket stoves. Rocket stoves are small, efficient stoves that are built from resources available locally, use little wood and produce clean flames with no smoke.This project protected the women from the health consequences of exposure to smoke, also addressing greenhouse gas emissions and the challenges associated with land erosion and deforestation.
Training was provided to women and girls in fabricating and using rocket stoves and in climate-change awareness; training toolkits and follow-up visits supported the successful adoption of the new cooking techniques among households.
Women and girls of Fiji
Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation; Adventist Development and Relief Agency Fiji; Community Centred Conservation Fiji; Gender Climate Change Alliance Fiji Ltd.; Grace Trifam Ministry; Makoi Women’s Vocational Training Centre; Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) Fiji; United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
October 2017–December 2022
Mostly contributing to
• 1,530 women successfully adopted a new cooking method using rocket stoves, following efficient training including the provision of tool kits and follow-up visits to support the transition.
• 1,580 energy-efficient rocket stoves were fabricated and distributed by these women to the communities, resulting in a reduction of the use of fossil fuels and improved livelihoods.
• 3,831 woodlot seedlings were raised and distributed to community members for replanting.
Effective engagement of a vast, diverse group of stakeholders and partners and clearly mapping their roles and responsibilities throughout the course of the project were two of the strengths of the initiative.
Adjustments in implementation timelines were made during the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual platforms were put in place to foster communications during the pandemic period. E-communication systems were also improved for better work strategies.
Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the last activity of the project, the construction of a storage facility for rocket stoves, was on hold. Implementing partners UNOPS and UNDP are expected to complete the construction in 2022. The Rocket Stove Workshop and Storage Facility is a sustainability element for the project and will be managed by the Makoi Women’s Vocational Technical Centre. It will ensure that training for more community members (especially women) continues as well as the knowledge for the fabrication of the stoves.
Based on the success of the project and the lessons learned from it, the GEF Small Grants Programme in Fiji has planned to extend the new call for proposals to interested non-governmental organizations (NGOs)/community-based organizations that would like to continue implementing the rocket-stove initiative. Also, the Government has a plan to have a curriculum developed specifically on the fabrication of the rocket stove. This curriculum will be used by Barefoot College Fiji, a national training centre for national/regional women that is currently being built in the district of Nadogo, Macuata.