Application of WHO’s Household Energy Assessment Rapid Tool (HEART)

The Household Energy Assessment Rapid Tool (HEART) is a template that guides users through evaluating the national-level household energy context and identifying key energy and health stakeholders. The objective of this tool is to gather and synthesize information on household energy use and associated health impacts in a country. This information can be used to stimulate discussion on appropriate household energy interventions, country-specific barriers to implementation, and opportunities to accelerate the transition to clean household energy.  

The HEART template guides uses to conduct a rapid situational assessment of current household energy use (particularly for cooking, heating and lighting), the extent of household air pollution and its impacts on health, and existing energy, health, or other relevant programs. Detailed knowledge of this information will inform and enable future clean household energy planning.

The template also includes questions to map the stakeholders engaged in the household energy, air pollution and related health sectors. The information gathered will include details on the scope of work of these stakeholders, their responsibilities and perceptions, mechanisms for coordination, and any gaps. 

Using this HEART template, countries can produce a final report presenting the results obtained from the needs assessment and stakeholder mapping.