Hifadhi-Livelihoods Project

Project Summary.

The Hifadhi-Livelihoods project is developed and financed by the Livelihoods Fund, in partnership with EcoAct & Climate Pal.

Access to energy is limited in parts of Kenya and, consequently, rural households are dependent on local biomass from forests. Kenya’s forests are particularly vulnerable as the country has a very low percentage of forest cover and deforestation continues every year. This results in huge biodiversity loss.

There is also another consequence of this dependence on biomass for energy. Wood is traditionally burnt on “three-stone” open fires inside the home, which produce large amounts of smoke and noxious gases. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that smoke inhalation from traditional wood burning stoves is equal to smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day. This has an enormous impact on the health of families, with women and children being most vulnerable to the risks.

The project provides poor households in the Mount Kenya region with affordable, improved cookstoves that reduce the consumption of firewood and emit less smoke with positive social and environmental impacts. They also reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere which helps to mitigate climate change.

Aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3: Good Health And Well-Being

The health of project beneficiaries is greatly impacted with the reduction of smoke inhalation meaning that families are less vulnerable to the risks of life-threatening illnesses related to in-door cooking, illnesses which claim the lives of millions each year.

SDG 13: Climate Action

So far, the project has reduced 1,830,7070 tCO2e, contributing to the vital fight against climate change. The reduction in deforestation and the tree-planting programme means that vital carbon sinks are being preserved in Kenya.

SDG 15: Life On Land

The upfront financing provided by the Livelihoods Carbon Fund to EcoAct and Climate Pal is also used for reforestation activities in the area by supplying communities with seedlings to grow trees. This is helping Kenya’s fragile forestry to recover, educating local people on the importance of their forests and even providing families with incomes and a sustainable source of wood.

The results

• 120,000 locally manufactured cookstoves distributed.
• +250,000 seedlings distributed (fruit and indigenous trees).
• Wood consumption reduced by 30-40%.
• 200 local artisans have been trained and provided with jobs.
• 55 full time jobs created, including 37 project officers are permanently hired from the local community.
• According to our annual surveys, 100% of beneficiaries say they now have better indoor air quality because of the stoves.
• 1,830,7070 tCO₂e reduced so far.