By Kawsu Daffeh & Abdoulie Daffeh
The Mbolo Association on Monday, 13th October officially launched the Sustainable, Holistic, and Inclusive Energy Systems for Well-being (SHINE) E-Cooking Book at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo.
The launch was organized in partnership with the University of The Gambia, the Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and the University of Bristol, under the UK-funded Ayrton Fund Project.
The SHINE Project is a transdisciplinary research initiative funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Ayrton Challenge Programme. It seeks to place well-being at the centre of energy system design and examine whether electric cooking can provide a cleaner, safer and more affordable alternative to charcoal and firewood for households in rural Gambia.
Speaking at the launch, Adama Sanyang described the E-Cooking Book as a practical guide documenting findings from months of community-based experimentation in different communities.
She said the study involved the random selection of households, hands-on training in the safe use and maintenance of electric cooking appliances, and community sensitization activities conducted by Mbolo field teams.
Dr Sam highlighted the initiative’s potential benefits for household well-being and the transition from biomass fuels to electric cooking. She also addressed the safe and efficient use of electric pressure cookers and other electric cooking appliances.
The launch of the SHINE E-Cooking Book marks a significant step in The Gambia’s clean cooking agenda, supporting national efforts to reduce deforestation and indoor air pollution while improving the well-being of women, who often bear a disproportionate burden of household cooking.
The initiative is expected to contribute to ongoing discussions on cleaner cooking solutions and the potential role of electric appliances in improving household health and energy sustainability.