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Understanding the clean cooking energy access gap among developing countries: Sub-Saharan Africa vs. other developing regions

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  • Malah-Kuete, Flora Yselle

Abstract

Despite global efforts to promote the clean energy transition, progress remains uneven across developing regions. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) significantly lags behind in providing clean cooking energy to its population. In this study, I examine the macroeconomic factors contributing to these disparities beyond household and individual-level determinants. I employ a decomposition method on data from 129 developing countries, including 47 from SSA, covering the period from 2000 to 2022. Findings indicate that SSA's access to clean fuels and cooking technologies is 44 percentage points lower than the average in Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Economic differences and resource endowments account for approximately 60 percent of this gap. Specifically, increases in GDP per capita and manufacturing are identified as key factors that could help SSA narrow this gap, while government spending, inflation, and dependency on natural resources impede access to clean cooking energy, further exacerbating the gap.

Suggested Citation

  • Malah-Kuete, Flora Yselle, 2025. "Understanding the clean cooking energy access gap among developing countries: Sub-Saharan Africa vs. other developing regions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 319(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:319:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225006942
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.135052
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