DelAgua’s Live Fyn programme has commenced the distribution of 42,500 improved cookstoves to rural households across three districts; Falaba, Tonkolili, and Kono in what is the programme’s most ambitious rollout to date.
The campaign spans 61 distribution sites across 15 Chiefdoms, with the support of 330 Youth Volunteers, reaching deep into communities where access to clean cooking technology has, until now, remained out of reach. For tens of thousands of families, this distribution represents a fundamental shift: from open-fire cooking that damages health and forests, to cleaner, safer, and more efficient stoves that protect both people and the environment.
A Community-Led Approach
Central to the success of this campaign is the mobilisation of 330 Youth Volunteers drawn from the communities they serve. These volunteers are the backbone of DelAgua’s field operations in Sierra Leone guiding households through the distribution process, demonstrating proper stove usage, and ensuring that every family understands the health and economic benefits of their new cookstove.
This community-led model is deliberate. By placing local young people at the heart of the programme, DelAgua creates employment and skills development opportunities while building the trust and familiarity that are essential for lasting adoption. The Youth Volunteers do not simply hand over a product; they carry a message of change into homes that need it most.
Reaching the Communities
The distribution footprint is broad and carefully planned. Across the three districts, every Chiefdom has been mapped, and sites have been selected to maximise coverage of rural populations. In Falaba, 24 sites will cover the Chiefdoms of Kulor Saradu, Nyedu, Barawa Wollay, and Delemandugu, while a further 26 sites will serve the Chiefdoms of Mongo, Kamadu Yiraia, Kabelia, Sulima, Dembelia Sinkunia, and Folosaba Kamba. In Tonkolili, 11 sites will cover the Chiefdoms of Sambaia and Kalanthuba. In Kono, distribution will take place in the Chiefdom of Jaiama Nimikoro.
All ongoing distributions are expected to pause on 30 June 2026 with the onset of the rainy season. The concentrated seven-week window demands precise coordination across every site, a challenge DelAgua’s field teams and Youth Volunteers are well prepared to meet.
In Partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone
This distribution is underpinned by a strong and growing partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone.
The partnership signals something larger: that clean cooking is not a peripheral issue but a national priority, one that intersects with public health, economic development, gender equity, and climate action. By working hand in hand with government, DelAgua ensures that its programmes are aligned with Sierra Leone’s development agenda and positioned for long-term scale.
“I am delighted that we are resuming stove distributions, bringing clean cooking access to more of Sierra Leone’s most vulnerable communities. This isn’t just about stoves; it’s about transforming lives. Over 42,500 rural households will benefit from real economic and social change. There is nothing more powerful than seeing families who would otherwise have no access; gain healthier, more affordable ways to cook. This is impact you can see, and impact you can feel.” Ibrahim Marrah Country Director, DelAgua Sierra Leone.
Why Clean Cooking Matters
Across sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 900 million people still rely on traditional cooking methods that produce dangerous levels of indoor air pollution. The consequences are severe: respiratory illness, eye disease, and premature death, disproportionately affecting women and children who spend the most time near the cooking fire. At the same time, unsustainable fuel collection drives deforestation and accelerates climate change.
Improved cookstoves address these challenges simultaneously. They burn fuel more efficiently, dramatically reducing harmful smoke emissions and cutting household fuel consumption. For families, this means healthier air, lower costs, and time saved. For the environment, it means fewer trees felled and measurable reductions in carbon emissions.
In Sierra Leone, where rural communities face some of the greatest energy access challenges on the continent, the impact of this campaign will be felt immediately and profoundly.
Looking Ahead
The May–June 2026 distribution is one phase in DelAgua’s broader commitment to Sierra Leone. As the Live Fyn programme continues to grow, DelAgua will deepen its reach, strengthen community engagement, and continue to work with the Government of Sierra Leone to bring clean cooking access to every eligible household.. For the 42,500 families receiving stoves in the coming weeks, the change begins today.
For more information, please contact:
Country representative, DelAgua Sierra Leone, — Ibrahim Marrah [email protected]
