Assessing Government Design Practices from a Human-Centered Perspective: Case Study of an Improved Cookstoves Program in Colombia

Governments and non-governmental organizations worldwide are promoting the transition to improvedcookstoves (ics), which aim reduce household air pollution decrease use of biomass. This article follows a case-study approach characterize assess design practices applied in Colombian government-led program foster ics rural households between 2010-2018 department Nariño. Data was collected from direct observation, 23 semi-structured interviews (with beneficiaries, civil servants, external stakeholders) documentary evidence. We assessed degree program’s formulation, implementation, evaluation considered beneficiaries’ specific needs, values, contexts human experience. found that government followed top-down focused on single principle, efficiency. Moreover, government’s methods did not appear sufficiently involve its potential beneficiaries or consider their actual experiences realities. argue if had more human-centered approach, it could have enhanced integration socio-cultural backgrounds beneficiaries. Overall, results this study underscore importance integrating approaches identify new paths improve governments’ responsiveness effectiveness.