Does participatory research stimulate sustained adoption of energy technologies? Lessons from stove dissemination in Gurué district, rural Mozambique

Research on energy transition to clean cooking suggests that the use of participatory approaches to design and evaluate the project impacts results in sustained adoption, user satisfaction, and continuous knowledge exchange between scientists and local stakeholders. However, the results of participatory approaches are mixed, and studies on long-term effects are rather scarce. This study uses an experimental design to test whether high stakeholder involvement in a participatory research approach is an effective tool for promoting the adoption of improved cookstoves. Data were collected from 138 participatory research participants and 448 conventional training participants. The results showed that participatory research is essential to stimulate early adoption, but is not sufficient to sustain adoption over time. Based on the results, we conclude that organizations implementing stove programs should not only consider strategies to encourage deep participation of potential beneficiaries in various stages (including planning, designing, testing, and modifying of improved cookstoves), but follow-up support should also occur. To sustain adoption, participation should be designed as a process that understands the mechanisms of unsustainable practices and the social demand for new technologies, going beyond adoption and promoting co-construction. • Co-design and participatory research foster technology adoption. • Local stakeholders participation result in appropriate technologies configurations. • Participation is essential but not the sole condition to sustain adoption over time.