Improved Cook Stove (ICS) is designed with modifications over traditional one with reduction in smoke emission and increased efficiency. The direct and indirect benefits of ICS includes: increased thermal efficiency, the conservation of forests by cutback in firewood consumption, reduction in women’s labour, reduction in indoor air pollution and hence smoke-released health disorders, prevention of fire hazards, reduction of cooking time.

A history of ICS development program in Nepal dates back to 1950s with the introduction of some Indian models. Since then, a number of Improved Cooking Stove Programs (ICSPs) have been promoted in rural communities of Nepal. A variety of stove designs with different dissemination strategies are promoted both by the Government and the NGO's.

During 1980s, interest and efforts were revived when the National Planning Commission included ICS in an attempt to address the pressing fuelwood problem. The government’s concern for fuelwood conservation was also reflected with the inclusion of ICS dissemination efforts as an important component of FAO assisted Community Forestry Development Project (CFDP) in 1981.

In early 1990s RECAST modified stoves design that can be built completely from cheap readily available local materials which have been promoted with various organizations To complement these efforts Alternative Energy Promotion Centre/Ministry of Environment Science and Technology executed National ICS Program with the support of Energy Sector Assistance Programme (ESAP) of Danida. in 1999. The National ICS Progarmme is implemented in the middle hills of Nepal through the experienced NGOs and Gos.