THE OLIVE BRANCH FOR CHILDREN
kutunza gas store
The Kutunza Gas Store program is part of The Olive Branch for Children (TOBFC) Climate Care pillar. The program goal is to facilitate households to switch from wood and charcoal solid cooking fuels to liquified petroleum gas (LPG) by increasing access to gas tanks in rural communities. The program supports the Tanzanian government’s priority to shift households from firewood and charcoal to gas for cooking stoves. The shift to gas cooking provides the best solution available now for rural Tanzanians to address the serious and immediate environmental and health consequences of continued use of solid fuels.
Tanzanians living in urban communities have benefitted from the availability of gas tanks, which has allowed them to adopt more environmental cooking methods. In rural communities, like the ones in TOBFC’s catchment area, a significant barrier to using more environmental cooking methods has been convenient access to cooking gas tanks. For some households, the cost to switch cooking methods or to purchase gas refills is an impediment.
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TOBFC has opened two Kutunza Gas Stores in the villages of Utengule and Mpolo to provide convenient, central access points for individuals to purchase cooking gas tanks and obtain refills. The gas tanks and fuel are sold at cost to make the switch to gas more affordable. This program supports our Better Fuel Choices program by ensuring cooking gas is readily available once households learn about the environmental and health benefits of switching to gas.
For some households, many headed by vulnerable women, elderly or disabled adults registered in our subsidized Community Care programs, we provide free gas tanks. Some individuals are then able to purchase their gas refills, while for others we provide ongoing refills free of charge.
The Kutunza Gas Store program helps to address the barrier of
access to gas, which has prevented many rural households from
adopting gas as a cooking fuel. This program is bringing gas closer
to rural communities and helping to address the rural and urban economic disparity in Tanzania. It also supports climate action to address deforestation and other environmental and health impacts from cooking with wood and charcoal fuels. This Climate Care initiative also contributes to addressing gender equity, women’s health and financial and food security for families.
