Bringing Rural Energy with village level initiatives

Francis NazombeMwandama Millennium Villages, Malawi

T: +265 999 369 423

05/02/23

Malawi

THE WARM HEART OF AFRICA

Statistics about Country - MaLAWI

• Population: 16.7 million• Population Density: 173 people per square km• GDP per capita: US$ 900• GDP: US$ 14.58 billion• Main Economic Activity: Agriculture 90%; and 10% industry and services;

main industries include: tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement and consumer goods• Poverty level: 51.3%• Energy use and consumption: biomass(88.5%); electricity (2.4%); petroleum

(6.4%); and coal (2.4%)

MWANDAMA VILLAGE, MALAWI COUNTRY

Village Statistics: •Main Economic Activity - Agriculture•Distance to nearest road – 5 km to the road from Blantyre to Zomba•Hours to nearest town – 0.5 hours•National grid status/accessibility – the site has connection to national grid provided by state utility company – ESCOM •Age distribution of population (% under 16 represents future demand for RETs) = 17,000 people are below age of 16•Any other distinguishing/insightful characteristics

MWANDAMA VILLAGE IN PERSPECTIVEThe site has 114 villages under T/A Mlumbe in Zomba with a population of 37, 153. Intervention in project areas are in areas of agriculture, health, education, business and infrastructure in the rural communities to attain all the Millennium Development Goals.

Key achievements include Improvement drop out of students in schools, improved agricultural yields over 5.4 metric tones / hectare, established 2 Health Centres, improved water and sanitation coverage to 95%, energy initiatives and connection and connectivity.

www.millenniumvillages .com

05/02/23

Background• Millennium Villages initiative is in 12 countries in

Africa,• In Malawi, the cluster name is Mwandama,

Traditional Authority Mlumbe, Zomba district in the southern region of Malawi

• 114 Villages, with 9,042 households with a population of 37,153

• The project started in 2006 with areas of intervention in agriculture, health, education and infrastructure related development to meet the millennium development goals (MDG)05/02/23

Background

• In 2008, the project distributed 1,500 solar lamps to the community sourced from Kenya & Tanzania under Talimba General Dealers Association (3 men and 5 female)

• A solar lamp was selling at $10 each• The community responded very well because it

was cheaper to use solar versus using kerosene (paraffin), monthly cost for kerosene was $5

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Issues

• The group was trained in operation and maintenance of solar equipment for sustainability purposes

• The off grid energy in Mwandama has provided opportunities for school pupils to study at night and improve on pass rate in class

• On health, breast feeding mothers have found it easier to take care of the baby at night due to the solar lamps

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Students using solar

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Issues

• Expectant mothers have also been assisted in antenatal services to the nearest health centers

• The facilities have also provided an opportunity for phone charging for the communities

• Farmers have been assisted to work in fields during irrigation late in the night

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Expectant Mothers using solar

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Lessons Learnt• Expansion of solar grid which feed or assist to

more than household to support things like TV/Radios

• Availability of spare parts and batteries is a very big problem

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The End!

www.millenniumvillages.org

05/02/23