Solar Cookers International Joins Organisation internationale de la Francophonie Webinar on Solar Cooking and Drying Solutions
Solar Cookers International (SCI) co-produced a webinar with the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) focused on solar cooking, solar drying, and integrated cooking solutions as pathways to sustainable employment opportunities for women and youth.
The French-language event, titled “Solar Cooking and Drying Solutions: Potential for Creating Sustainable Jobs for Women and Youth,” took place on May 6, 2026. It brought together experts and development practitioners to explore how clean and efficient cooking and food preservation technologies can support livelihoods, reduce energy costs, strengthen food security, and advance inclusive sustainable development.
The discussion placed solar cooking and drying within a broader framework of integrated cooking solutions. OIF-selected speakers focused on income generation, youth employment, and local enterprise opportunities, while also highlighting the role of improved biomass cookstoves alongside solar thermal technologies.
SCI shared its experience advancing solar cooking as a practical, clean, and sustainable energy solution, including insights from a solar cooking initiative in the Central African Republic. The session highlighted how solar cooking can support household energy access, community training, small-scale enterprises, and climate resilience.
Solar drying was presented as a way to preserve agricultural and food products, reduce food loss, and create value-added goods for local markets. Together, solar cooking and drying demonstrate how clean energy access can contribute to healthier communities and durable green jobs.
Solar Cookers International was represented by:
- Alan Bigelow, Ph.D., Program and Science Director, Solar Cookers International
- Dr Stephane Villatte, Program Officer, Solar Cookers International
They were joined by:
- Dr Rachelle Ida Yapo, Director of Sustainable Development Policies and Strategies, Côte d’Ivoire
- M. Sidi Diabang, Head of Office, Enda Énergie, Senegal
- Madame Lena Watt, Programme Specialist, Youth Professional Integration, OIF-IFEF
The session was organized by Yves Nassouri, Coordinator of “Innovations and Francophone Advocacy” at OIF, and included OIF-REPAO Program Specialist Passassim Nanguit as a moderator.
Reflecting on SCI's participation, Alan shared:
"Thanks to SCI supporters, it was an absolute pleasure for SCI to produce a webinar in French for the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). This webinar raised awareness about solar cooking, solar drying, SCI's expertise, and SCI's experience from a solar cooking initiative in the Central African Republic. This webinar reached a broad audience across Francophone countries, and SCI looks forward to more collaboration with OIF to further the solar cooking movement among its member countries."
SCI’s collaboration with OIF reflects its commitment to promoting solar cooking as part of practical, community-based climate solutions. The webinar reinforced the importance of training, partnerships, policy support, and local implementation in expanding access to solar cooking, drying, and integrated cooking solutions.