Africa has secured an additional $900 million in financial commitments to expand access to clean cooking, bolstering efforts to tackle one of the continent's most persistent energy challenges, the International Energy Agency said on Friday.
The new pledges, unveiled by the IEA during a virtual meeting of global leaders and development partners, add to the $2.2 billion mobilized at the inaugural Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa held in Paris in 2024.
The latest commitments bring total financing commitments to $3.1 billion, as governments and multilateral institutions seek to accelerate access to clean cooking for about 1 billion Africans who still rely on traditional fuels such as wood and charcoal.
The IEA said $740 million of the funds pledged at the 2024 summit have already been deployed across 22 African countries, reflecting faster-than-expected implementation. The agency said it would continue tracking both financial disbursements and progress in household adoption.
IEA executive director Fatih Birol said more than one-third of the funds pledged in Paris have already been disbursed in just two years.
"With an additional $900 million now committed and further announcements expected before the next summit, our focus remains on turning these commitments into lasting improvements for millions of households across Africa," said Birol.
The renewed momentum comes as policymakers increasingly frame clean cooking as both an energy security and economic development priority.
The US reaffirmed support for expanding access to cleaner fuels in Africa. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said affordable and reliable propane could significantly improve living standards across developing economies by replacing traditional cooking fuels.
The IEA said shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz affected about 30% of globally traded liquefied petroleum gas, the primary cooking fuel used by over 3.4 billion people worldwide.
The agency said the new program will help countries improve domestic fuel security while promoting greater international cooperation on supply resilience.