Relief International is a not-for-profit, humanitarian and development organization that partners with local communities to respond to disasters and build resilience. They provide immediate humanitarian assistance and long-term solutions, like fuel efficient stoves, to address locally identified needs and enable communities to build a better future. All funds raised by Relief International are invested back into furthering this mission.

Before Gyapa™, metal artisans’ and ceramicists’ value chains in Ghana did not interact, nor were the artisans organized. They had no access to working capital, were being forced off production sites, could not invest in bulk purchases of raw materials or specialized equipment, had no delivery vehicles, and struggled to promote their products.

This all changed with carbon financing.

The impact of carbon financing

Working together with local artisans and Ghanaian cooks, Relief International:

• Provided necessary training and equipment for cookstove production & sales operations
• Funded distribution infrastructure for supply procurement and retail deliveries
• Enabled continuous monitoring of stove production, sales, and customers with their local partner SUDRA

All this allowed for the creation and distribution of a cooking solution that is safe, climate-conscious, and cost-efficient.

Made specifically for Ghanaians

Relief International avoided traditional cookstove risks by treating the Ghanaian household cook as a valued customer. Ghanaian preferences have been considered in every aspect of the Gyapa™ consumer experience:  portability, cooking styles, fuel size, safety, ease of lighting, affordability, etc.

A pioneering approach that has gone to scale

Today, the Gyapa™ cookstove project is the largest provider of direct to consumers cookstoves in Ghana. Gyapa™ is one of those rare cookstove programs that offers a stove that works technically, meets the needs of the customer, and is affordable.
It has also resulted in steady quality emissions reductions (over 6M tons of CO2 and counting!) thanks to 15+ years of continuous on the ground monitoring and a long-term partnership with Gold Standard.