Description of the project
The Union of Women Cooperatives for Argan oil (UCFA) and the Foundation have been working together since 2013 to install and disseminate solar cookers amongst populations of Southern Morocco, as a means of preventing deforestation of argan trees, reducing CO2 emissions and avoiding toxic fumes. They raise awareness among pupils and their mothers about local climate issues and the advantages of using solar energy. Children and women are trained in the schools to assemble cookers (delivered in kits) and on their use. Finally the cookers are transferred to the families, where women adopt them with enthusiasm.
Climate Impact
Thanks to solar technology, CO2 emissions and toxic fumes caused by wood burning are significantly reduced. This simple and affordable technical solution makes solar energy accessible to women and local populations. The project contributes to the fight against deforestation and its climate consequences: 5 to 10 kg of wood are saved per day and cooker.
Gender Impact
The project enables the reduction of unpaid wood collecting chores for women and young girls, which has a direct impact on their education, health and empowerment. The use of safe and clean solar technology, also has a positive impact on women’s health. UCFA and the Foundation strengthen the capacity of women through training of facilitators to disseminate the cookers in the schools, and planned future creation of a local small entreprise for the manufacture of cooker kits. At least 50% of the entreprise’s workforce will be women.
Scalability/Replicability
The project methodology has been tested over the course of three pilot operations (120 cookers distributed) and evaluated in 2016. Local facilitators, women and men, have been trained to support schoolchildren and women in the adoption phase. The solar cooker kits can be manufactured locally, involving women: the UCFA partners and Foundation, are planning the creation of a local business in 2017-2018.
Fondation Mohammed VI pour la
Recherche et la Sauvegarde de l’Arganier