Tenders at Narok County Government and Other Companies in Kenya

The cooking sector in Kenya has undergone some level of transformation over the years with regards to the enabling environment (policies, guidelines, regulations etc). From a sector largely dominated by traditional cooking solutions, to one that is step by step adopting clean cooking solutions. With growing interest in the sector, transformation is expected to persist, especially with growing interest from the government and the Private sector. The Country has put in place polices and strategies such as  the Energy Policy 2018, Energy Act 2019, Bioenergy 2020, and Kenya National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy 2020 among others as instruments influencing change/transformation.

With regards to Standards, Kenya through the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has adopted ISO 19867-2018 Clean cookstoves and clean cooking solutions -Harmonized laboratory test protocols-Part 1 standard test sequence for emissions and perfomance safety and durability. At national level, KEBS has also developed other cooking sector standards which play a crucial role in enhancing credibility, safety and authenticity of  the clean cooking solutions  accessible in the country. These include KS ISO 17225 of the solid biofuels, fuel specifications and classes KS 1814 : 2019. At the , of clean in These include - biofuels specifications classes, Biomass Cookstoves the KS ISO 17225 of the Solid - Fuel and Ethanol cooking Appliances; 2838 : 2019 : Denatured technical requirements; 2019; 2759 : 2018 Fuelled KS Performance KS -Sustainable Specification; KS- 2912 2020 Solid biofuel Charcoal and alcohol for cooking and appliance fuel - : use as Practice systems E carbonized KS 2951 2022 Systems-Code for farm and industrial scale biogas and briquettes; : Biogas of Cooking - Global Cooker Test among others. Standards LEAP Electric Pressure Method are providing

While standards aimed at guidance and ultimately ensuring some level of uniformity in the target sector, evidence of whether this has been the case with the cooking sector is not readily available, especially with regards the informal cooking sector. Evidence n the adherence to these standards by the sector players is not readily available, this is exacerbated in the rural areas where the players in the cooking value chain do not seem aware of the existence these standards, and where they are known, their applicability poses a challenge. It is also alleged that for some standards, the provision therein are noted to be too stringent and therefore not readily applicable.  It is alleged that other factors such as languange with which the standards are presented as well as the costs associated with acquiring the standards poses a challenge to the end user especially  for rural besed enterprises that are largely informal operating at low scale.

Call for Bids.

As the sector grapples with the challenge of quality among cooking solutions available in the market, despite the availability of the standards, some of efforts by the private sector to adopt alternative approaches include developing ot the Biomas cookstoves vountary Labeling Standard (VLS)  in 2019 by CCAK. The VLS, yet to be rolled out, is aimed at supporting scaling-up the production and distribution of clean cooking solutions while ensuring regulatory compliance. As a way of entrenching quality within the cooking sector, the GCF project  is working with other players  in the sector including, Kenya Industrial Research Institute (KIRDI), Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), CCAK, EPRA, and other partners creating and environment that enables the development of the sector capacity to respond to some of these challenges .Understanding the applicability of the existing standards to the clean cooking market is just starting point in the efforts towards developing a clear road map for transforming quality assurance narrative within the the cooking sector in Kenya.

It is in this regard that GIZ kenya is seeking the services of a consultant to undertake a review of the applicability of the existing clean cooking sector standards among the intended consumers. The review will entail identifying gaps if any and proposal on how these gaps could be addressed.  The assignment will involve an end user survey among the various groups consumer groups of  the standards. Interested bidders must provide verifiable proof of qualifications and experience. The individual consultant is requested review  the indicated qualification in the Terms of Reference (ToRs) which will be shared.the qualifications Terms of to