Her Excellency Samira Bawumia, the former Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana, joined several prominent African leaders and global stakeholders at the high-level session titled “Financing Clean Cooking: From Pilots to Decisive Delivery”, held during the second edition of the Africa Climate Summit (ACS) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The session, a significant feature of the Summit, aimed to address the pressing need for scalable and sustainable clean cooking solutions across the African continent. It was co-organised by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIIF), UK International Development, Africa Climate and Energy Nexus, fsdAfrica, and Enabel, with a focus on moving beyond pilot initiatives towards full-scale implementation that can transform lives and communities.
Samira Bawumia, a staunch advocate for women’s empowerment, health, and environmental sustainability, underscored the importance of equitable access to clean cooking technologies as a critical component of Africa’s climate and public health agenda.
“The transition to clean cooking is not just a climate imperative, it is a social and economic necessity,” said H.E. Bawumia during her address. “Millions of African women and children continue to suffer the health impacts of traditional cooking methods. Financing clean cooking solutions is essential for building a healthier, more equitable and climate-resilient Africa.”
Her remarks echoed the broader call for increased investments and political commitment to clean energy access, especially for underserved and rural populations.
The high-level session brought together a diverse group of policymakers, financiers, and development partners, including:
- H.E. Rachel Ruto, First Lady of Kenya
- Rachel Kyte, UK Climate Envoy
- Mamo Mihretu, Vice President, African Development Bank (AfDB)
- Kandeh Yumkella, Chairman, Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy & Food Security, Republic of Sierra Leone
- Mary Warlick, Deputy Executive Director, International Energy Agency (IEA)
- Ms Marcelina Mataveia, National Director of Energy, Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy (MIREME), Mozambique
Together, these leaders shared insights on strategies for mobilising public and private sector financing, establishing inclusive policy frameworks, and leveraging international partnerships to scale up clean cooking adoption across Africa.
The Africa Climate Summit: A Catalyst for Continental Transformation
Held biennially and co-hosted by the African Union Commission and member states, the Africa Climate Summit (ACS) serves as the continent’s premier platform to align climate action with Africa’s sustainable development goals. The 2025 edition in Addis Ababa has been pivotal in highlighting climate justice, green finance, and sustainable energy transitions.
This year’s Summit emphasized Africa’s leadership in addressing the climate crisis through homegrown innovations and collaborative efforts, positioning clean cooking as a priority issue due to its intersection with health, gender equality, and environmental conservation.
Advancing the Clean Cooking Agenda
According to the IEA, nearly 900 million people in sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to clean cooking technologies, resulting in over 500,000 premature deaths annually from indoor air pollution. These alarming statistics have propelled clean cooking to the forefront of the climate and health dialogue.
Stakeholders at the session agreed that moving from small-scale projects to widespread implementation requires transformative financing mechanisms, policy innovation, and strong political will.
H.E. Samira Bawumia’s participation reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to climate resilience and inclusive energy access, with a particular emphasis on the role of women as catalysts for clean energy adoption.
Source : Twinsdntbeg
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