Relief International rolls out Gyapa™ cooking stove project in Ghana
Gyapa™: A social, economic, and climate lever
Improved cooking stove projects have a direct and positive impact on local communities. They benefit households, especially women, by making meal preparation safer. In addition, they generate local jobs through the manufacturing, distribution, and maintenance of the stoves. The projects proposed by ClimateSeed are no exception. A notable example is the Gyapa™ improved stove project in Ghana, which contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 3, 8, and 13 and has a significant impact on communities.
20 Years of Impact for Cleaner, More Affordable Cooking
Developed by Relief International, this project is one of the largest and longest-running improved cookstove programs in the world. It is based on the production and marketing of more efficient and fuel-saving charcoal stoves, sold under the Gyapa™ brand (which means “good fire”), to replace traditional, inefficient stoves. In Ghana, about 73% of households still rely on solid fuels for cooking, and millions use inefficient stoves, which creates health risks for families due to excessive emissions while also increasing fuel consumption.
The Gyapa™ Philosophy : Save, Protect, Empower
Offered at an affordable price (under USD 10), the Gyapa™ stove enables households to cut their fuel expenses in half (around USD 120 per year) while providing a safer, more efficient, and more convenient cooking experience. Developed in collaboration with Ghanaian cooks and artisans and manufactured from recycled materials, the project currently supports more than 700 jobs in Ghana.
The goal is to keep the stoves accessible so that low-income households can choose for themselves to adopt this safer, more economical solution. Instead of distributing the stoves for free which could risk discouraging ownership Relief International reinvests carbon finance revenues into building a 100% local, robust supply chain, backed by rigorous monitoring and quality control.
Key performance indicators
The Gyapa™ project is certified by the Gold Standard™ (GS407) and has already undergone nine audits conducted by independent organizations, including field audits. It relies on daily monitoring of production, sales, and after-sales service, provided locally by SUDRA, a partner of Relief International. User surveys and real-world testing complement this system, ensuring the accuracy of emissions measurements and the validation of co-benefits.
Expert Insight
Gyapa™ stoves guarantee consistent energy efficiency throughout their lifetime, while remaining affordable. The project has already prevented the emission of more than 6 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent thanks to their widespread adoption by Ghanaian households. More than 2.6 million stoves have been sold, rather than distributed free of charge, to low-income households, proving the effectiveness of this approach.
Alessandra Souroujon
Carbon Project Manager
Relief International : at the heart of territories & transitions
Relief International is an international nonprofit organization that has been supporting communities affected by conflict, climate change, and disasters for 60 years, saving lives, building resilience, and promoting sustainable health and well-being.
With more than 5,000 local employees and volunteers, Relief International operates in 16 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, delivering programs in health and nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), education, and livelihoods. These actions are carried out in partnership with local actors in order to develop safe, inclusive programs that are adapted to local contexts and climates, serving the most vulnerable populations.
Relief International also contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions linked to dairy and livestock value chains, community forest management, agroforestry, and improved stoves, while generating essential co-benefits for communities.
Combining carbon reduction with
tangible local benefits
Relief International and ClimateSeed began working together in 2024 to launch the Gyapa™ project. This collaboration is based on a rigorous selection process, requiring guarantees on project quality and the effective integration of co-benefits, which strengthen the credibility and impact of carbon credits.
Reducing carbon emissions remains essential, but it must be accompanied by tangible benefits for local communities: poverty reduction, sustainable jobs, and improved health and well-being. Financing projects that meet only one of these objectives is no longer sufficient in the face of the climate emergency and limited resources.
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