- Date
- 29th October 2024
- Categories
- Clean Cooking, Community Learning
By Dr Simon Batchelor, Gamos Ltd. Loughborough University
I have the privilege to be on a number of country and thematic based WhatsApp groups that are dedicated to clean cooking or eCooking. They are a fascinating mix of dedicated people, mainly professionals working in clean cooking but coming from all walks of life. Each group has a good moderator to keep the discussion free of spam. In the following blog I make personal observations about my journey and experience of 2 years of being on these community groups. I share these personal thoughts as a learning exercise in itself – observing the progress, the changes, and then seeking to strengthen by contributing to this blog, which I hope will encourage others to set up similar groups in other countries. (I acknowledge I was assisted in my analysis by ChatGPT, which I used like a calculator – as when one is doing a calculation in maths).
Looking back, in the initial phase, I notice that the chat is dominated by introductions and knowledge sharing. Group members often wanted to learn about new technologies particularly Electric Pressure Cookers (EPCs) but also other clean cooking solutions. The tone was curious and exploratory, with many questions around how these technologies work, their energy efficiency, and their potential for widespread use. I see the groups building the foundations of their relationships, with participants contributing early-stage insights and sharing research.
When conversations got going, they often revolved around basic challenges, such as the cost of technologies, the lack of awareness in communities, and technical issues related to using EPCs in areas with unstable grids. There were lots of discussion on problem identification during this period. The groups spent time talking about the key barriers to adoption, with frequent discussions about the affordability of clean cooking solutions and the logistical hurdles in distributing products to rural areas.
The groups were also influenced by where the industry on eCooking was at 2 years ago. Discussions were around early-stage pilots and small-scale tests. Participants seemed to seek feedback from users, sharing initial data on the performance of EPCs and comparing results to traditional cooking methods. There was an emphasis on experimentation, with many group members still in the process of testing different models and trying to understand how these technologies fit into local cooking practices.
When we fast forward 2 years, we find the conversation has moved on. The tone of the chat has shifted towards data-driven discussions. Participants are now sharing detailed performance metrics, field test results, and impact data from larger-scale projects. There seems to be a clear emphasis on measuring the impact of clean cooking technologies on health, fuel savings, and environmental outcomes (e.g., reductions in deforestation). I feel this represents a shift from the earlier, exploratory tone to one of implementation and evaluation.
And that leads into discussions on scale. Discussions now are around scaling clean cooking technologies to larger markets. Participants are talking about expanding pilot projects, securing financing, and implementing business models that can sustain growth, such as Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) systems and carbon financing. There is a lot on carbon financing as people try to wrap their head around Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. There is less focus on learning the basics of the technology and more on strategic conversations about how to scale distribution, reach more households, and reduce costs for end users.
By this time, there is a stronger emphasis on policy advocacy and government engagement. Participants are discussing how to influence national policies, secure subsidies, and integrate clean cooking into government energy strategies. There’s a growing recognition that achieving widespread adoption will require policy support and institutional backing, which has become a central theme in the various groups’ conversations.
The conversations also became more collaborative in their solution-orientation. Participants are sharing lessons learned from their experiences and offering strategies to overcome challenges such as cost barriers, logistics, and cultural resistance. Instead of just identifying problems, participants are now implementing solutions and discussing best practices for overcoming obstacles to adoption. And I notice there are now more success stories and recognition of achievements within the group. Participants share their awards, grants, and successful implementation of clean cooking solutions, leading to a more positive, celebratory tone. The chat becomes more of a space for sharing milestones and motivating others, as participants feel validated by their progress and accomplishments.
It’s interesting to me how the three groups I looked at, have a similar route in their changing conversation. I mention ‘celebratory tone’ just now. The groups are full of emotion. Several subjects in the WhatsApp chat evoke strong emotional responses from participants including frustration, excitement, hope, and concern.
Frustration, Concern… Many participants express frustration about the high upfront costs of technologies like Electric Pressure Cookers (EPCs), LPG, and solar cooking systems. This subject evokes strong responses as people share concerns about how these technologies remain inaccessible to low-income households, especially in rural areas. There is a lot of concern around how to make clean cooking solutions affordable for the masses, with frequent discussions about the challenges of high fuel costs, financing options, and the need for subsidies.
Frustration, Anger… Conversations about the rising price of LPG and its unreliable supply chains often trigger strong emotional responses. Participants express anger and frustration about the volatility of LPG prices, which disproportionately impacts low-income families who cannot afford regular refills. These discussions also evoke resentment towards external market forces and government policies that fail to stabilize LPG prices or make the fuel more affordable.
Concern, Urgency… When the conversation shifts to the health risks of traditional cooking methods (e.g., firewood and charcoal), such as indoor air pollution and related respiratory illnesses, there is a notable sense of concern and urgency. Discussions about the environmental impact, particularly deforestation caused by biomass fuels, also evoke concern. Many participants share their worries about the long-term damage caused by unsustainable cooking practices and express an urgent need for cleaner alternatives.
But there are also positive emotions. Frustration sometimes turns into hope. Frustration but Hope … Frustration is evident in discussions around government policies and regulations (or lack thereof) that impact the adoption of clean cooking solutions. Participants express dissatisfaction with the slow pace of policy changes, particularly when it comes to subsidies or government support for clean cooking technologies. However, when discussing the potential for policy advocacy and engaging with governments, there is also a sense of hope and anticipation. Participants express the belief that stronger government collaboration could lead to widespread adoption of clean cooking technologies.
And there is solidarity with each other, consolation for losses, and pride at good work. Pride, Excitement… Conversations about awards, public recognition, and accomplishments evoke feelings of pride and excitement. Participants celebrate each other’s successes, such as winning grants, being featured in exhibitions, or receiving industry recognition for their contributions to clean energy. These moments are often met with enthusiasm and motivation, encouraging others in the group to push for similar achievements and continue their work.
What starts as a few connections on social media, has grown to be a community that supports one another. As the months progress, the groups begin to show signs of growing trust. Participants start to share more personal experiences, including challenges they face in their projects or initiatives. The tone becomes supportive, with members offering advice, encouragement, and solutions to overcome hurdles. The shift to more open discussions signals a deepening of relationships, where participants feel comfortable voicing frustrations or concerns and receive peer support in return.
We are all in a world where communication and media are rapidly changing. The youth apparently no longer use Facebook, I personally don’t use TikTok. The blog is about WhatsApp but Prof Ed Brown likes to discuss and highlight things on LinkedIn. There may well be other media I am not even aware of – I haven’t used Telegram or WeChat much. I felt that one impact of COVID was that we all had to learn how to do virtual meetings, even if we still forget to unmute our mics. So, the idea of ‘knowing’ someone but never having met them face to face, has somehow become more acceptable. In my experience you can have a ‘real’ relationship without actually ever having met in real life!
However, even with my limited exposure to social media and communication channels, what I think is perhaps true for the past, present and future is that we learn more when we discuss things, and when we bounce ideas off each other, and inspire and encourage each other. I can clearly see that for the moment, for me, these WhatsApp groups are playing that role, and helping the community learning be a resource, an assistance, for the country and sector, while not requiring everyone to meet regularly face to face.
Well done to those who set up the groups and those who admin and moderate them. They are valuable. If you are not on one for your country, I recommend joining one or starting one.
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Featured Image: Photo credit freepik. (www.freepik.com).