UpEnergy Receives MCFA Support to Scale Electric Cooking in Zambia
UpEnergy is pleased to share that the Modern Cooking Facility for Africa (MCFA) has awarded EUR 1 million in support to expand access to clean, modern electric cooking in Zambia.
The funding will enable UpEnergy Zambia to distribute up to 40,000+ zero emission electric cookers by 2029, focusing on grid-connected urban households that continue to rely heavily on charcoal and wood despite strong levels of electricity access. Each cooker is designed specifically for African households and supported by integrated sensors that capture real-time usage data, helping ensure long-term, reliable adoption.
Photo: Rygard Ntemena, Country Director for Zambia at UpEnergy (second from left) together with representatives from Sweden, Nefco, and EU at the EU Business Forum in Zambia on 14 November – EU Delegation in Zambia
Rygard Ntemena, Country Director, UpEnergy Zambia, commented:
“We’re grateful for MCFA’s support, which allows us to take the next step in scaling electric cooking in Zambia. With more than 85% of the country’s electricity already generated from renewable sources, this partnership helps us bring cleaner, faster and more affordable cooking to thousands of families.”
This investment forms part of UpEnergy’s wider efforts to accelerate the transition from biomass to clean electric cooking across Africa - advancing household health, reducing emissions, and improving daily life through reliable, data-driven programmes.
This new award builds on MCFA’s earlier partnership with UpEnergy Tanzania, where a EUR 2 million agreement announced in 2024 is supporting the scale-up of electric cooking services across multiple regions. Together, these investments reinforce the growing role of electric cooking as a clean, modern alternative for households across Africa.