Changing Viewpoints

A grounded approach to assessing the social impact of the 'partners in pellets' impact cluster concerning the implementation of pellet stoves in the Kigali urban area, Rwanda

Traditional cooking methods contribute to household air pollution and pose risks to public health, the environment, climate, gender equality, and overall air quality in cities. The urgent need for clean cooking innovations has led to the involvement of international stakeholders through a.o. impact clusters. This study explores and assesses the social impact of the impact cluster ‘Partners in Pellets’, addressing the harmful effects of traditional cooking by implementing a pellet stove option in the Rwandan urban context. To gain insights into the impacts experienced by internal and external stakeholders, a grounded approach was employed, involving interviews and household visits. The study presents a contextual understanding of the multifaceted aspects of social impact, social impact assessment and stakeholder theory. It underscores the significance of including local stakeholders in the design, development, and assessment processes of international development projects. Additionally, it identifies key social impact themes for pellet stove users, including time-saving, improved health, gender equality, CO2 neutrality, economic improvement, and physical appearance. The findings reveal the unexpected level of inclusion of local stakeholders in the project, demonstrating the commitment of the impact cluster partners to inclusivity and positive community outcomes. The study also presents an analysis of the perceived limited impact on the charcoal sector and positive spin-off effects on competing local pellet-stove companies. The research provides an overview of the organizational characteristics of the impact cluster that were prerequisites to the created impact and which emerged throughout the grounded process. The main barriers to creating impact are related to scaling capacity and are divided into the themes of affordability, adaptability and access to affordable fuel. The study reflects on the dependency of carbon credits for the creation of social impact and suggests exploring options to eliminate carbon offset dependency after an initial period to foster positive environmental impacts. The study suggests that the impact cluster ‘Partners in Pellets’ predominantly has positive social implications while presenting some challenges that must be addressed.