Search Climate Insights Directory

The Kenyan dairy sub-sector contributes 6–8% of the national GDP but faces challenges including low productivity, fragmented marketing, and significant greenhouse gas emissions, primarily methane. To address these, the Stockholm Environment Institute identifies 20 sustainable consumption and production (SCP) practices across the value chain—ranging from silage preparation and artificial insemination to biogas production and automated vending machines—to decouple economic growth from environmental impact. The document recommends that the Kenyan government expand extension services, support research through demonstration farms, and implement the Dairy Industry Regulations of 2020 to streamline standards and pricing.

The document argues that Kenya's coffee sector, which employs 30% of the agricultural workforce, faces existential risks from climate change and declining production. It proposes 17 specific Sustainable Consumption and Production Practices (SCPs) across the value chain—from farm-level organic fertilizers and shade trees to factory-level eco-pulping and the use of renewable energy in milling—to increase yields and reduce environmental impacts. The brief recommends that the Kenyan government incorporate SCPs into national coffee reforms, provide subsidies for sustainable technology, and enhance capacity-building through extension officers.

The research identifies 14 key drivers of improved cookstove adoption in Kenya across individual, social, and structural levels. Using CIB analysis, the authors developed four consistent future scenarios to illustrate how these drivers interact. Findings highlight that while individual factors like trust in local partners and the aspirational value of stoves are critical, structural elements such as government policy and the role of the private sector significantly shape the sector's trajectory. The paper argues that a systemic, multi-level perspective is essential for designing effective policy interventions to increase clean cooking uptake.

The research examines why households in Kenya and Zambia purchase advanced cookstoves and the factors that determine whether they consistently adopt them. While financial accessibility, fuel savings, and aspirational appeal drive initial purchases, long-term adoption depends on the stove's actual performance and the availability of technical support during the learning phase.

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 document argues that while affordability and aspirational appeal drive the initial purchase of advanced cookstoves, long-term adoption depends on the stove's performance and the availability of ongoing user support. Based on case studies in Kenya and Zambia, it highlights that shifting cooking habits is a complex behaviour change process requiring hands-on trials, clear manuals, and personal follow-up to prevent users from abandoning new technology in frustration.

This research paper examines the transition to advanced cookstoves in Kenya and Zambia, distinguishing between the motivations for initial purchase and the factors that ensure long-term adoption. While financial accessibility, fuel savings, and aesthetic appeal drive initial sales, the study finds that actual adoption depends on the stove's performance and the availability of post-purchase support. The authors recommend hands-on trials, high-quality manuals, and consistent fuel quality to prevent users from abandoning the technology.

The report examines the 'customer journey' of households in Kiambu County, Kenya, adopting Philips advanced cookstoves distributed via the Visionary Empowerment Programme (VEP). It identifies that while trust in local microfinance partners drives initial sign-ups, actual adoption is hindered by a lack of user-centric value propositions, poor fuel supply chains for pellets, and a 'start-up phase' where users struggle with new routines. The study concludes that users often 'stack' stoves, using the advanced model only for specific tasks, and that a holistic approach considering the end-user's definition of 'improved' is essential for achieving health and climate goals.

The SEI Initiative on Behaviour and Choice focuses on understanding why technical solutions in developing countries often fail due to a lack of user adoption. By collaborating with experts in behavioural economics and design research, the initiative seeks to create a framework that accounts for individual, relational, and structural drivers of behaviour. Initial empirical work focuses on the adoption of advanced biomass-pellet cookstoves in Kenya, specifically in Kiambu and Nakuru, to address high mortality rates from household air pollution. The initiative intends to produce a set of tools to help public and private sector actors design policies and products that better respond to user perspectives.

The report assesses Kenya's cooling landscape, highlighting that 9.6 million people are at high risk due to lack of cooling access. It identifies critical needs in agriculture, where 40% of food is lost annually, and healthcare, where electricity gaps hinder vaccine cold chains. To mitigate these issues and align with the Energy Transition and Investment Plan (ETIP) 2023-2050, the document recommends eight policy interventions, including the adoption of passive cooling, stricter Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPs), and the phase-out of HFC refrigerants. It also proposes financial strategies such as green bonds and blended finance to overcome high upfront costs for sustainable cooling technologies.

The study tested three behavioral interventions to increase the adoption of improved cookstoves in Kenya. While initial results showed improvements in health awareness, these findings lost statistical significance when controlling for village fixed effects and baseline imbalances. No significant increase in cookstove purchases was observed, with cost and lack of financing identified as primary barriers.