CHF 100
unlimited availability
Clean Cooking Initiative
Local briquettes for efficient, clean and affordable stoves
Barrow Transform
Wetzikon, CH
Project Overview
Clean Cooking Initiative aims to catalyse a transition toward sustainable, locally produced biomass energy in The Gambia. With the financing of a briquetting press, we will establish the country’s first structured production of high-quality biomass briquettes—an affordable, clean and reliable fuel source for modern cookstoves. This initiative reduces deforestation, lowers household energy expenditure and strengthens the local circular economy.
0%
150 CHF
of 16.000 CHF
18
days
of 30 days left
2
Boosters
supported project
Funding goals
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Stage 1:
7.500 CHF
2% funded
Acquisition of a used briquetting press to launch production immediately. Including transport to The Gambia.
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Finish Stage:
16.000 CHF
0% funded
The full amount will enable us to purchase a new, efficient and sustainable briquette press. We can also use it to finance the transport of the machine to The Gambia.
Over 80% of Gambian households rely on firewood or charcoal for daily cooking. This dependence results in:
• Rapid deforestation and biodiversity loss
• Higher energy costs for low-income households
• Severe indoor air pollution, disproportionately affecting women and children
• Limited employment opportunities, driving youth migration
By fostering a sustainable energy ecosystem and building local manufacturing capabilities, this project addresses both environmental degradation and socio-economic vulnerability.
• Rapid deforestation and biodiversity loss
• Higher energy costs for low-income households
• Severe indoor air pollution, disproportionately affecting women and children
• Limited employment opportunities, driving youth migration
By fostering a sustainable energy ecosystem and building local manufacturing capabilities, this project addresses both environmental degradation and socio-economic vulnerability.
We aim to establish a credible, locally anchored, and scalable clean-energy alternative in The Gambia. Through the production of biomass briquettes, we will:
• Reduce reliance on charcoal and firewood
• Preserve natural ecosystems
• Lower household energy costs
• Create meaningful employment and vocational pathways for young people
• Supply our clean cookstoves with a reliable, efficient and locally sourced fuel
This model generates long-term environmental, social and economic value for communities.
• Reduce reliance on charcoal and firewood
• Preserve natural ecosystems
• Lower household energy costs
• Create meaningful employment and vocational pathways for young people
• Supply our clean cookstoves with a reliable, efficient and locally sourced fuel
This model generates long-term environmental, social and economic value for communities.
1. Immediate Launch of Local Production
The financing of a briquetting press enables us to begin transforming agricultural residues—such as peanut shells and millet by-products—into clean-burning, low-emission biomass briquettes.
2. Strengthening Local Industrial Capacity
We are expanding our metalworking centre to scale the production of durable, locally manufactured clean cookstoves, ensuring access to high-quality technology at affordable prices.
3. Skills, Jobs and Community Integration
Through structured training, fair employment practices and collaboration with local communities, we ensure that the technology is accessible, accepted and sustainably embedded.
The financing of a briquetting press enables us to begin transforming agricultural residues—such as peanut shells and millet by-products—into clean-burning, low-emission biomass briquettes.
2. Strengthening Local Industrial Capacity
We are expanding our metalworking centre to scale the production of durable, locally manufactured clean cookstoves, ensuring access to high-quality technology at affordable prices.
3. Skills, Jobs and Community Integration
Through structured training, fair employment practices and collaboration with local communities, we ensure that the technology is accessible, accepted and sustainably embedded.
The funds will be allocated to:
• Acquisition of a briquetting press (used → new depending on funding level)
• Procurement of raw materials and initial operating inputs
• Expansion of the metalworking and fabrication centre
• Training programmes, community onboarding and technical capacity building
• Quality control, safety standards and distribution logistics
Every contribution accelerates our ability to deliver clean energy, local production, and long-term resilience for Gambian households.
• Acquisition of a briquetting press (used → new depending on funding level)
• Procurement of raw materials and initial operating inputs
• Expansion of the metalworking and fabrication centre
• Training programmes, community onboarding and technical capacity building
• Quality control, safety standards and distribution logistics
Every contribution accelerates our ability to deliver clean energy, local production, and long-term resilience for Gambian households.
Barrow Transform
Wetzikon, CH
Barrow Transform integrates local industrial development with social impact. We are establishing The Gambia’s first professional manufacturing facility dedicated to clean-cooking technologies and sustainable metal products.
Our work reduces import dependency, strengthens domestic value chains and provides families with healthier, more affordable and environmentally responsible cooking solutions.
Saikou Barrow
Wetzikon, CH
Founder
A metalworker trained in Switzerland, Saikou brings technical expertise and a long-term commitment to industrial development in his home country. Having witnessed the environmental and economic constraints caused by firewood dependence, he is dedicated to proving that innovation, industry and opportunity can emerge locally.
Yves Keel
Niederglatt, CH
Design & Technology Consultant
With extensive on-the-ground experience in Senegal and The Gambia, Yves combines technical knowledge with a deep understanding of local needs. His partnership with Saikou ensures that solutions are not only innovative, but also culturally grounded and sustainable.
Mohamed Sylla
Wetzikon, CH
Strategic Advisor
Mohamed Sylla is a French–Senegalese–Gambian professional with 19 years of experience in European financial markets, risk management and large-scale transformation.
As Strategic Advisor to Barrow Transform, he contributes to:
• Strategic structuring of initiatives
• Strengthening governance and operational oversight
• Coordination with stakeholders, partners and institutional actors
• Ensuring long-term sustainability, economic resilience and measurable impact
His mandate supports the creation of a robust and scalable development platform in The Gambia.
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