While the cookstove project funded by C-Quest Capital represented a now-well-known way to address deforestation and smoke pollution in Mozambique, problems recently uncovered by the Washington Post underscore the importance of establishing a robust project performance measurement plan early on to minimize the risk of such projects.

Understanding the Problem

Africa, where nearly 4 in 5 households prepare meals over open flame, has been a focal point of these kinds of cookstove projects. C-Quest has been one of the largest players, distributing thousands of stoves per day across sub-Saharan Africa.

C-Quest Capital’s Mozambique initiative focused on distributing improved cookstoves that use less fuel and emit fewer pollutants than traditional cooking methods. The project aimed to enhance health outcomes for families while simultaneously generating carbon credits through reduced emissions. 

However, challenges arose in verifying the actual impact and efficiency of the project: the pressure to produce carbon credits at a low cost led the company to cut corners in a way that ultimately backfired on the people it was trying to help. Lacking a strong measurement plan for the project meant that C-Quest failed to realize it needed to take steps to ensure that its clay and metal cookstoves were being widely used and working properly, critical to ensuring that the project was reducing greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation as intended:

• Because the stoves were vulnerable to rain, some villagers — who’d cooked outdoors before the project — placed their devices indoors, in areas with poor ventilation, probably increasing their exposure to dangerous air pollution.
• Meanwhile, the company claimed on official paperwork that the stoves were being used by every household participating in the program – a claim that could not be verified on the ground.

Leaving aside the significant ongoing subsequent organizational and industry fallout from these revelations, the C-Quest saga illustrates a crucial shortcoming that endangers the carbon credit system: project investors and credit-buying companies depend on the actual delivery of promised impacts by projects that usually offer little to no transparency as to their performance. 

Solutions that could have made a difference 

Industry solutions such as Impact Inside – a SaaS-based project design, measurement, reporting, documentation and storytelling platform – have built in and systematized measurement best practices to help projects avoid such pitfalls:  

1. Clarifying Objectives and Metrics

Establishing a robust framework for measuring impact helps project leaders define clear, attainable objectives. By determining what success looks like—from improved health indicators to energy savings—project proponents can adjust strategies and interventions as needed. This clarity prevents misalignment between project goals and actual outcomes.

2. Building Stakeholder Trust

Investors, government agencies, and beneficiaries alike need assurance that initiatives will deliver on their promises. By embedding impact measurement from the outset, projects produce transparent, verifiable data that enhances credibility and builds trust among stakeholders. In the case of C-Quest Capital, the ability to know success levels through quantified impacts would have enabled adjustments to be made before they became true project viability concerns.

3. Early Identification of Challenges

Regular impact assessments allow for the early identification of issues during project implementation. By assessing progress against objectives, project leaders can recognize when a strategy isn’t working and pivot quickly to address these challenges. For example, in the cookstove initiative, verifying that stoves are used effectively in households could have revealed operational issues before they escalated into significant hurdles.

4. Enhancing Project Sustainability

Long-term sustainability relies on continuous evaluation and improvement of project strategies. By incorporating impact measurement practices early on, projects can iteratively refine their approaches based on real-world feedback. This adaptability is especially crucial in dynamic environments like those where C-Quest Capital operates, where cultural, economic, and environmental factors can significantly influence project outcomes.

5. Supporting Expansion and Scalability

A successful project backed by data-driven evidence can serve as a model for scaling initiatives to other regions or communities. Positive impact metrics not only encourage further investment but also demonstrate replicability in similar contexts. C-Quest Capital could benefit from showcasing verified successes to expand its reach and influence in the clean cooking sector.

Conclusion

The C-Quest Capital cookstove project presents an important case study  – not only in the realm of clean cooking solutions in Africa, but for the entire voluntary carbon industry. While the goal of providing efficient, health-conscious cooking options is vital, the underlying framework of impact measurement is critical to achieving that goal. By establishing robust monitoring and evaluation practices early in the project lifecycle, proponents can greatly enhance the likelihood of success, ensuring that initiatives deliver on their promises and contribute effectively to the fight against climate change and energy poverty.