Assessment of the Impact of Cook Bags on Users' Everyday Life

The report, conducted by the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice in collaboration with Africa's Gift Charity, investigates the impact of insulated cook bags on the daily lives of users in Lesotho

Lesotho, known as the Mountain Kingdom, faces multiple challenges, including high rates of HIV infections, Gender-Based Violence, and economic vulnerability. For the main part, Basotho women are responsible for cooking and resource collection, exposing them to health risks and, because the tasks associated with food preparation are so time-consuming, hindering their socio-economic prospects.

The report, conducted by the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice in collaboration with Africa's Gift Charity, investigates the impact of insulated cook bags on the daily lives of users in Lesotho and details the evolution of cook bags, including Wonderbags, polystyrene-filled bags, and the Eco Cook Bag.

Findings include the following:

• Proven effective in reducing cooking time and preserving nutrients.
• Reduced resource consumption and food waste.
• Particularly beneficial for women, providing increased time for other activities.
• Improved health reported due to reduced smoke exposure.

Read the report (PDF, 1.9MB) to find out more.