This document discusses bringing rural energy access to villages in Malawi through local initiatives. It provides background on Mwandama Village, which has a population of 37,153 people across 114 villages. In 2008, the Millennium Villages project distributed 1,500 solar lamps that provided cheaper lighting than kerosene and helped students study at night, mothers care for babies, and others charge phones. While solar access had benefits, expansion of the solar grid and availability of spare parts remained issues.

1. Bringing Rural Energy with village
level initiatives
Francis Nazombe
Mwandama Millennium Villages, Malawi
T: +265 999 369 423
09/17/15

2. Malawi
THE WARM HEART OF AFRICA

3. 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%)

5. 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

6. MWANDAMA VILLAGE IN PERSPECTIVE
The 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

7. 09/17/15

8. 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)09/17/15

9. 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
09/17/15

10. 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 lamps09/17/15

11. Students using solar
09/17/15

12. 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
09/17/15

13. Expectant Mothers using solar
09/17/15

14. 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
09/17/15

15. The End!
www.millenniumvillages.org
09/17/15