Modern and Sustainable Energy for All

More than 90% of households in the country still use wood and charcoal for cooking. This practice puts significant pressure on forests, perpetuates energy poverty, and exposes millions of women and children to health risks.

To address this situation, Madagascar presented its Clean Cooking Development Policy Letter on December 18 in Antananarivo.

This policy aims to provide everyone with progressive access to efficient, safe, affordable, and healthy cooking services, making clean cooking a true driver of inclusive development and energy sovereignty.

By 2035, the strategy plans to develop local supply chains, structure the private sector, create green jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The sustainable protection of forest resources is also central to this program.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supports this initiative, which aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals. Clean cooking directly contributes to universal access to modern and sustainable energy, while also promoting health, gender equality, climate action, and ecosystem preservation.

Authorities emphasize that this policy is not simply a technological shift. The goal is to improve the daily lives of citizens, particularly women and children, while simultaneously boosting the local economy and strengthening resilience to environmental challenges.