To support new entrepreneurs in Ethiopia’s clean cooking sector, the following tools and templates have been designed to facilitate effective problem identification. These resources are practical, easy to use, and tailored to the unique challenges of the target audience.

1.  Problem Identification Worksheet

This worksheet helps entrepreneurs systematically identify and validate customer pain points in the clean cooking sector.

Template: Problem Identification Worksheet

Entrepreneur Name:                                                                               

Business Idea:                                                                             

Step 1: Identify Core Problems

List the key challenges faced by households relying on traditional cooking methods. Consider factors like cost, health, environment, and accessibility.

Example:

Step 2: Validate the Problems

Use this section to confirm that the identified problems are real and relevant to your target customers.

Example:

Survey/Interview Questionnaire to Validate Problem

This questionnaire is designed to help entrepreneurs gather insights from potential customers and validate the problems identified in the clean cooking sector. The questions are structured to uncover pain points, preferences, and behaviors related to traditional cooking practices.

Section 1: Current Cooking Practices

1. What type of stove or fuel do you currently use for cooking?
   • Options: Wood, Charcoal, Kerosene, Gas, Electric, Solar, Other (please specify).
   • Purpose: To understand the primary energy source used by
2. How much do you spend on fuel or firewood each month for cooking?
   • Purpose: To assess affordability challenges and financial burdens associated with traditional fuels.
3. How easy or difficult is it for you to access your current cooking fuel?
   • Options: Very Easy, Easy, Neutral, Difficult, Very Difficult.
   • Purpose: To identify accessibility issues, such as distance or availability of resources.

Section 2: Health and Environmental Concerns

4. Have you or anyone in your household experienced health issues (e.g., respiratory problems) due to smoke from cooking?
   • Options: Yes, No, Not Sure.
   • Purpose: To validate health risks caused by indoor air
5. Do you think your current cooking method impacts the environment (e.g., deforestation, pollution)?
   • Options: Yes, No, Not Sure.
   • Purpose: To gauge awareness of environmental consequences and willingness to adopt cleaner alternatives.

Section 3: Challenges and Pain Points

6. What is the biggest challenge you face with your current cooking method?
   • Open-ended
   • Purpose: To uncover specific pain points, such as cost, time, or health
7. How much time do you or someone in your household spend collecting firewood or purchasing fuel each week?
   • Purpose: To quantify the time burden associated with traditional cooking methods.
8. Would you be interested in switching to a cleaner or more efficient cooking solution if it were affordable?
   • Options: Yes, No, Maybe.
   • Purpose: To assess openness to adopting clean cooking

Section 4: Awareness and Preferences

9. Are you aware of any cleaner or alternative cooking solutions available in your community?
   • Options: Yes, No. If yes, please specify what you know about
   • Purpose: To evaluate awareness levels and gaps in knowledge about clean cooking
10. What features would you look for in an ideal cooking solution (e.g., affordability, ease of use, durability)?
    • Open-ended
    • Purpose: To identify customer preferences and prioritize key features in your solution design.

How to Use This Questionnaire

• For Surveys: Distribute the questionnaire digitally or in print to gather quantitative data from a larger audience.
• For Interviews: Use these questions as a guide during one-on-one conversations to collect qualitative
• Data Analysis: Look for patterns in responses to confirm or refine your understanding of customer problems.

Step 3: Align Your Solution

  Describe how your business idea addresses the identified problems. Example:

2.  Customer Pain Points Mapping Template

This visual tool helps entrepreneurs map out the specific pain points experienced by different customer segments in the clean cooking sector.

Template: Customer Pain Points Mapping

Customer Segment: Rural Households

Location: Hawassa, Ethiopia

Example:

Customer Segment: Urban Low-Income Families

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Example:

3.  Problem Validation Checklist

This checklist ensures entrepreneurs thoroughly validate their identified problems before moving forward with their business ideas.

Template: Problem Validation Checklist

Entrepreneur Name:                                                        

Business Idea:                                                              

Step 1: Gather Data

• Conduct interviews with at least 10 potential
• Observe customer behaviors in real-world settings (e.g., markets, homes).
• Distribute surveys to collect quantitative data on challenges

Step 2: Analyze Feedback

• Summarize common themes from customer feedback.
• Identify the most pressing pain points based on frequency and
• Compare findings with existing research or industry

Step 3: Test Assumptions

• Create a prototype or mock-up of your
• Test it with a small group of customers (e.g., 5–10 households).
• Collect feedback on usability, affordability, and

Step 4: Refine Your Approach

• Update your problem list based on new insights.
• Adjust your business idea to better address validated
• Document lessons learned for future

4.  Example Case Study Template

This template provides a structured format for documenting real-world examples of problem identification in action.

Template: Example Case Study

Entrepreneur Name: Yohannes Gebre

Business Idea: Solar-powered cookers for urban households

Step 1: Core Problems Identified

• High fuel costs for traditional stoves.
• Indoor air pollution causing health issues.
• Lack of awareness about clean cooking

Step 2: Validation Process

• Conducted interviews with 20 households in Addis
• Observed cooking habits in local
• Distributed surveys to assess affordability

Step 3: Solution Alignment

• Designed a low-cost solar cooker with simple setup
• Included free educational materials to raise
• Partnered with local NGOs to distribute cookers to low-income

Step 4: Outcomes

• Positive feedback from pilot users: “The solar cooker saves money and improves air quality.”
• Increased interest in clean cooking solutions among surveyed
• Plans to scale the business to rural areas.