“Attention Apple, the Tanzania cookstove market needs you…”

This item came to us via Indoor Air Pollution Updates, which, in turn, got it from IDEO.org, the social innovation shop that focuses on developing solutions to everyday problems using a iterative process called Human-Centered Design.

We’re not sure what HCD is exactly but the conclusion from their research on the everyday use of clean cookstove by the people who matter most — the cooks themselves — is definitely worth pondering. In brief, their study found that,…

“People understand the value of efficient cookstoves when they buy them. But when it comes to every day use, the tangible benefits are too small to matter. What does matter to the every day user is how arduous it is to actually cook a meal.  Consequently, women will always default to the easier choice, making them value things that help make cooking easier and faster.“

Another interesting finding is that, although clean cookstoves may save fuel use, the daily savings is relatively small, so it does not factor into the choice of stove used.

Here’s another one for you: In Tanzania cooking is perceived as a chore and big investements are usually reserved for the living room (a TV, for example). Consequently, investing in a better cookstove is not seen as a priority. They are seen as cheap, disposable, utilitarian appliances.

Some of these conclusion may sound obvious. Nevertheless, it’s the type of reminder that one might jot down on a yellow Post It note and hang on the side of your computer screen.

We’ve selected some slides from their report that we found to be most compelling. But don’t take our word for it. Please, take the time to view the whole presentation because it contains valuable insight.