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UK Spends £99 Million on Electric Cooking Initiatives in Africa and Asia

British taxpayers are funding a £99 million initiative aimed at encouraging families in Africa and Asia to adopt electric cooking. The project, which falls under the UK’s foreign aid programme, is designed to improve health and environmental conditions by reducing reliance on firewood and charcoal, both of which contribute to pollution.

 

More than £55 million has already been spent on the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) project, and the Foreign Office recently approved nearly doubling its budget, extending its operation until the end of the decade. The majority of this funding is allocated to Loughborough University, which is conducting extensive research on clean cooking solutions.

 

 

By 2030, the university is expected to produce 650 reports on the subject. As part of its efforts, researchers have also developed 'eCookbooks' to guide families in preparing traditional meals with electric appliances and created a 'multi-dimensional framework to assess and monitor gender equality, equity, and women's empowerment.'

 

Additionally, the programme includes the distribution of 20,000 electric pressure cookers in Tanzania and Uganda, with a smaller number of air fryers being handed out in other countries. However, the initiative has faced criticism from some quarters, with concerns being raised about the use of taxpayer money on foreign aid projects that may not deliver tangible benefits.

 

 

Joanna Marchong, Investigations Campaign Manager at the TaxPayers' Alliance, expressed her concerns, stating, "Taxpayers will be furious at the frittering away of their cash on frivolous foreign aid projects. Too many of these costly schemes look like little more than virtue-signalling exercises rather than genuine humanitarian assistance which saves lives."

 

The future of the MECS project is now uncertain following a recent announcement by Sir Keir Starmer that the UK’s aid budget will be reduced to accommodate increased defence spending. A spokesperson from the Foreign Office commented, "The UK is taking a rigorous approach to ensure all ODA [Official Development Assistance] delivers value for money for the taxpayer. Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review."

 

Loughborough University, which remains at the forefront of the initiative, responded to the potential budget cuts, saying, "The university remains committed to the MECS project. At this stage, we have no information on whether cuts to UK Official Development Assistance will affect our programme moving forward."

 

With the debate over foreign aid spending continuing, the programme’s long-term viability remains uncertain. However, for now, the UK government maintains its commitment to promoting clean cooking in developing countries.

 

Based on a report by Daily Mail  2025-03-19

 

 

Labour continuing to waste taxpayers money on stupid vanity projects.

 

At least this will make some people happy though.

 

There has been a surge in demand from Africa and Asia for British made 12 cylinder diesel generator sets on wheeled chassis.

Makes me proud to be British the way we care about everyone and the planet.

That is a big part of why we are so loved and respected around the globe. 
I am happy to see some of my taxes going to such a worthy cause.

 

34 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

There has been a surge in demand from Africa and Asia for British made 12 cylinder diesel generator sets on wheeled chassis.

For the support of the EV chargers and Electric Fry pans Me think.   

When there is a change of govt in the UK and the radical progressive woke left gets what they did in they US they should call in Musk and his Doge team. Billions of wasted taxpayers pounds to be uncovered I'm sure.

3 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

Makes me proud to be British the way we care about everyone and the planet.

That is a big part of why we are so loved and respected around the globe. 
I am happy to see some of my taxes going to such a worthy cause.

 

I could be wrong, but that sounds like sarcasm?

13 hours ago, Social Media said:

The majority of this funding is allocated to Loughborough University, which is conducting extensive research on clean cooking solutions.

 

So, basically, posh people are sending tax-payer's money to other posh people, who will accomplish very little, having a jolly old time and earning piles of cash, while tax-payers struggle to get by...  🙄

1 hour ago, mikeymike100 said:

I could be wrong, but that sounds like sarcasm?

 

It sounds like what it is.  Idiotic trolling.  The guy isn't even British.  🤦‍♂️

Without wishing to be picky, but this will significantly increase demand for electricity, the generation of which, using the fuels available in rural Africa ( poor quality open cast lignite probably), is likely to involve significant pollution.

 

People who rely on scavenged firewood for cooking are unlikely to have the cash to pay for more electricity - if they have an electricity supply in the first place!

 

All a bit pointless I would suggest.

 

There are plenty of other projects in rural Africa on which £99 million could be spent for much more benefit - clean water supply for example.

By 2030, the university is expected to produce 650 reports on the subject. As part of its efforts, researchers have ***

and created a 'multi-dimensional framework to assess and monitor gender equality, equity, and women's empowerment.'

 

However, the initiative has faced criticism from some quarters, with concerns being raised about the use of taxpayer money on foreign aid projects 

 

when ...  do they report on how much money is siphoned back to the pockets of these researchers

 

They need a DOGE Global Dept !!!

 

Hopeful no cats or dogs get air fried. 

11 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

 

So, basically, posh people are sending tax-payer's money to other posh people, who will accomplish very little, having a jolly old time and earning piles of cash, while tax-payers struggle to get by...  🙄

 

Ron Paul said it best.

 

So, the UK is bring electricity to people with nothing to plug in.

Seems to be catching on.

Good Job UK.