Madagascar is taking a major step toward a more sustainable and energy-efficient future by revising standards for charcoal-efficient cookstoves and developing new regulations for firewood-efficient stoves. From March 11 to 14, 2025, a workshop in the City of Flowers brought together key stakeholders to drive this initiative forward. Led by the Ministry of Energy and Hydrocarbons, with technical support from the UN Madagascar joint programme Integrated Financing for Sustainable Energy (FIER), the event marked a crucial milestone in Madagascar’s just energy transition.
The FIER programme—jointly implemented by UNDP Madagascar, UNCDF, and UNIDO Madagascar, with financial backing from the Joint SDG Fund—focuses on strengthening regulatory frameworks to accelerate the adoption of cleaner, more efficient, and cost-effective cooking technologies. By ensuring access to sustainable energy solutions, this initiative is paving the way for long-term environmental and social benefits.
Currently, only two percent of Madagascar’s population has access to clean cooking energy. Meanwhile, ninety-five percent of households rely on biomass, a key driver of deforestation, with ninety thousand hectares lost annually. The heavy dependence on firewood and charcoal disproportionately affects women and children, exposing them to harmful fumes and forcing them to spend hours collecting fuel. Indoor air pollution contributes to over twenty-six thousand deaths each year, particularly among children under five. Without urgent action, Madagascar’s carbon emissions could reach twenty-two million tons of CO₂ by 2030.
To tackle these challenges, the workshop focused on updating and refining energy efficiency standards to improve access to sustainable cooking technologies, reducing the environmental impact of firewood use, and ensuring that regulations support the widespread adoption of clean cooking solutions. Experts exchanged insights, reviewed existing standards, and worked toward reshaping regulations to support a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. The event also strengthened the capacity of stakeholders on the standardization process, revised the draft standard for charcoal-efficient cookstoves, and introduced a new standard for firewood-efficient cookstoves.
Jean-François Dubuisson, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Madagascar, reaffirmed the importance of a strong legal framework for improving cookstoves, emphasizing that clear regulations will be instrumental in driving adoption.
The FIER project has provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Energy and Hydrocarbons, ensuring that Madagascar is equipped with updated standards that will facilitate access to cleaner cooking solutions. With financial backing from the Joint SDG Fund, this initiative will help improve livelihoods while addressing pressing environmental concerns.
This effort is made possible by the generous support of international partners, including the European Union Delegation to Madagascar and Comoros, the Consulate of the Netherlands in Antananarivo, the Embassy of Germany in Antananarivo, the Honorary Consulate General of Norway in Madagascar, the Embassy of Switzerland in Madagascar, the Embassy of the Republic of Italy, the Honorary Consulate of Sweden and Denmark, the Honorary Royal Consulate of Belgium in Madagascar, the Government of Luxembourg, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Madagascar, the Honorary Consulate of Poland, UNICEF Madagascar, and the Consulate of Monaco in Madagascar. Their contributions have been instrumental in advancing Madagascar’s transition to cleaner and more efficient energy solutions.
By enhancing cooking standards, Madagascar is setting the foundation for a more sustainable, healthier, and resilient energy system. This initiative is part of a broader effort to expand clean energy access, curb deforestation, and improve public health. The successful implementation of these standards will be a critical step toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Note:
All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and our private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
