The organizers of the Africa Clean Cooking Summit have announced that the event, originally scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, on July 9 and 10, 2026, has been postponed. The decision was made due to ongoing uncertainties and changing circumstances that could affect the participation of key stakeholders and partners.
The summit is organized by several international and government partners, including the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Kenyan government, Norway, and other organizations committed to improving access to clean cooking solutions across Africa.
Although the physical gathering has been delayed, organizers said efforts to advance clean cooking initiatives on the continent will continue. A high-level virtual meeting is scheduled for July 9, where leaders, investors, policymakers, and development partners will review progress made so far and discuss future actions.
According to a statement issued by the organizers, the online meeting will also provide an opportunity to present major financial commitments that had already been announced ahead of the summit.
The organizers emphasized that significant progress has been recorded since the first Africa Clean Cooking Summit was held in Paris in 2024. Since then, governments, development institutions, private investors, and international organizations have increased their support for clean cooking projects across the continent.
An earlier briefing from the IEA revealed that about $470 million had already been disbursed from the $2.2 billion in public and private funding commitments announced during the inaugural summit. These funds have been directed toward expanding access to cleaner cooking technologies and reducing dependence on harmful traditional cooking methods.
The statement also highlighted policy improvements made by African countries over the past two years. More than 70 percent of Africans who currently lack access to clean cooking solutions now live in countries that have introduced stronger policies supporting the sector. Across the continent, governments have implemented nearly 40 new measures aimed at encouraging investment, expanding access, and promoting cleaner cooking alternatives.
Despite this progress, organizers acknowledged that the challenge remains enormous. According to estimates from the IEA, around one billion people in sub-Saharan Africa still do not have access to clean cooking solutions. As a result, many households continue to rely on firewood, charcoal, kerosene, and other traditional fuels for daily cooking.
Experts warn that these traditional cooking methods contribute to serious health and environmental problems. Household air pollution caused by smoke from cooking is estimated to lead to approximately 815,000 premature deaths across Africa each year. Women and children are often the most affected because they spend more time near cooking areas.
The postponement of the summit comes at a time when advocates are working to place clean cooking at the center of Africa’s energy development agenda. For many years, discussions about energy access focused mainly on electricity, while clean cooking received less attention.
However, there has been growing recognition that access to safe, affordable, and clean cooking solutions is essential for improving public health, protecting the environment, empowering communities, and supporting economic development.
As governments and investors continue to increase their commitment to the sector, stakeholders remain hopeful that the momentum generated since 2024 will continue despite the summit’s postponement. The upcoming virtual meeting is expected to reinforce partnerships and maintain focus on achieving universal access to clean cooking across Africa.
