Engaging Women in Modern energy based Clean Cooking Sector

banner size Round Table WMEC 19 March (1200 x 630 px)

Gender issues are deeply intertwined with clean cooking challenges. Women, especially in rural areas, bear the primary responsibility for household cooking and are disproportionately affected by the use of traditional biomass fuels like firewood and dung. This exposes them to harmful indoor air pollution, increasing the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, the time spent collecting firewood limits their opportunities for education, income generation, and participation in community decision-making. Transitioning to clean cooking solutions, is not just a health or environmental priority—it is also a critical step toward gender equality and women’s empowerment. However, this switch when coupled with engaging of women in enabling clean cooking fuel transition can be a GAMECHANGER. It would ensure that women have an equal voice in the decision making regarding the adoption of modern clean cooking solutions and technologies, they are more aware about the opportunities and can be a part of those opportunities, unlocking traditional knowledge about cooking and energy use, and have a mutual support and encouragement.

About Women in Modern Energy Cooking (WMEC)

“Women in Modern Energy Cooking” (WMEC) was launched by Modern energy cooking services programme (MECS) through it’s India In- country partner the Finovista, with an aim of enabling a Women driven approach for gender equity In clean cooking sector in India. WMEC recognises the impact of engaging women and bring them at the heart of enabling the transition to Modern energy based clean cooking. MECS programme through it’s India country partner is looking to collaborate with individuals and organisations to take this initiative forward.

Our Initiatives

The “Women in Modern Energy Cooking” (WMEC) initiative has already laid a strong foundation by identifying critical challenges, engaging diverse stakeholders and building upon the momentum, leveraging Dr. Yesmeen Khalifa’s Gender Equality, Equity, and Women’s Empowerment Framework to ensure a holistic, gender-transformative approach. Our initiatives are mentioned below.

Recently under the Women in Modern Energy Cooking (WMEC) strand a report has been published. The report identifies critical interventions necessary to effectively integrate gender and social inclusion considerations into clean cooking policies and programs.

3.05: eCooking for Institutions

eCooking for Institutions We are delighted to invite you to...

2.10 Transitioning to Modern Energy for Cooking: Engaging Women, a GAMECHANGER

We are delighted to invite you to the 10th session...

1.6 Transitioning to Modern Energy in Cooking: Women in Clean Cooking

The sixth session in the series, held on 16 December...

Round Table ON "Women in Modern energy Cooking" (WMEC) - 2025

The Women in Modern Energy Cooking (WMEC) Initiative roundtable, organized by the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) Programme through its in-country partner Finovista, successfully brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including startups, SMEs, think tanks, policy institutions, community groups, NGOs, financial institutions, hospitality, DISCOMs, and academia. The discussions focused on advancing gender-inclusive clean cooking solutions by addressing financial, infrastructural, and behavioural challenges.

Dr. Parveen Dhamija, Advisor at Finovista, opened the event by underscoring the disproportionate burden traditional cooking methods place on women—leading to drudgery, health risks, and safety concerns. She emphasized the need for financial empowerment, equal participation, and women-led initiatives, while also ensuring men’s involvement in the transition. Ms. Sheetal Rastogi, Co-Founder of Finovista, presented research findings from the WMEC initiative, highlighting the significance of gender mainstreaming, access to modern cooking technologies, financial barriers, and gender-disaggregated data in policymaking. Insights from manufacturers and users pointed to the need for improved design models, PAYG financing, and greater women-led entrepreneurship in clean cooking.

There were two sessions in the roundtable where the first session explored critical aspects of clean cooking financing and policy interventions. Experts and industry leaders engaged in in-depth discussions on the barriers and opportunities within the clean cooking ecosystem. Key themes included the importance of de-risking investments, the role of public-private partnerships, and the need for targeted policy support to drive large-scale adoption.

The second session was an interactive activity where participants engaged with four thematic boards—Policy, Supply Chain, Consumer Awareness, and Finance. Stakeholders contributed their insights and ideas using sticky notes, identifying challenges, opportunities, and key interventions required for advancing clean cooking solutions. This participatory approach fostered collaboration and provided real-time feedback on pressing issues, helping shape actionable recommendations for a more inclusive and sustainable clean cooking transition.