Hestian Innovation

An improved cook-stove is one that is more fuel efficient, cleaner and safer than a traditional three stone open fire.

In Malawi, Hestian promotes improved household cook stoves that are affordable, appropirate and locally made, such as:

Esperanza Fixed Stoves: 

The fixed stoves or ‘esperanza stoves’ promoted by Hestian have been developed in Malawi with special design features to improve combustion and heat transfer and to reduce smoke. Made from locally available materials, their life span is indefinite if maintained by end-users. The payback period for the end-user can be as low as four months. This stove can be manufactures at a village level, and its dissemination can act as a catalyst for villages enterprises.

Chitetezo Ceramic Stoves:

Portable stoves are made from clay at a village level, mainly by women. They are the least expensive alternative to the traditional three-stone fire and are portable to allow for cooking indoors or outdoors. Their life span is estimated to be around 3 years, with many stoves lasting for over 7 years. Hestian monitors adoption rates of portable stoves and social incentives are offered to end-users in the form of fruit tree seedlings and seed for pigeon peas, which can be used as a food, fuel and organic fertiliser.

Mthandizi Urban Stoves:

The Mthandizi is a 'rocket stove' that reduces smoke and emissions by up to 70%. It targets urban households that currently purchase fuel (normally wood and charcoal). The stove is affordable, aesthetic and is tasked with encouraging urban households to veer away from unsustainably prodcued charcoal and move to a more efficient and economical wood-burning stove. Initial customers and stove focus groups in Malawi express their satisfaction with the design, which accomodates cooking local dishes such as nsima. All the inputs are locally made involving metal workers and potters.