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The Okra – Steung Chrov Project deployed a 50 kWp / 300 kWh mesh-grid system to electrify 140 households across three remote Cambodian villages. The project, supported by the UNDP and the Cambodian government, utilized a plug-and-play hardware and software solution to overcome the impracticality of national grid extension and the commercial failure of conventional mini-grids. While the levelised cost of energy is USD 0.45/kWh, the system is sustainable on ongoing operations and maintenance costs under full utilization, with users paying a subsidized tariff of approximately $0.16/kWh.

The document investigates whether health-based messaging can drive the adoption of clean cookstoves in Cambodia and Kenya. Findings from both studies indicate that health messaging has a minimal effect on actual purchases, with price and the efficacy of sales agents being more significant drivers. While the campaign in Cambodia increased awareness of health risks, awareness in Kenya was already high at the baseline. The research suggests that for health messaging to be effective, it must be combined with innovative financing to overcome affordability barriers and be better aligned with end-user needs.

The action research conducted in Kampong Chhnang province found that health messaging alone was not a primary driver for ACE-1 cookstove sales. While positive health campaigns were more effective at shifting attitudes and increasing awareness of household air pollution, actual sales were predominantly driven by the individual traits, persuasiveness, and commitment of sales agents. The most successful agent combined health storytelling with functional benefits, such as fuel reduction and cooking speed. Significant barriers to adoption included the high price of the stove ($100-$115) relative to low household incomes and a lack of disposable cash during the planting season. The study concludes that while health campaigns can change perceptions, sales are more dependent on agent quality, product affordability, and the communication of functional advantages.