Greening Malawi, the warm heart of Africa

The frequency of climate shocks, especially in the country's 28 disaster-prone districts that cover over half of the country, is an urgent reminder that the world must invest in sustainable solutions.

To tackle climate change impacts, the government has adopted a comprehensive policy framework with its national climate pledge, also known as a National Determined Contribution (NDC). This includes a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 50 percent by 2040, and a strong focus on reducing the vulnerability of its population and ecosystems while also contributing to socio-economic development.  

Under the leadership of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change and the Ministry of Energy, and with support from UNDP and the Government of Japan, Malawi’s efforts are starting to deliver tangible results.

Solar lights powering lives

Analysis from the country’s NDC shows the increased use of renewables is a crucial factor in achieving the country's mitigation goal. In a country where only 12 percent of the population is connected to the national electricity grid, increasing access to off-grid renewable energy is paramount.

Japan’s substantial support has allowed the expansion of off-grid, small scale solar PV systems, covering a third of the US$4 million needed country-wide to generate energy from this source as per the NDC.

So far, 2,000 households have benefitted from solar energy installations across the country. In the Zomba district, Cecelia Maulana, a 36-year-old mother, lives in one of the 330 homes equipped with photovoltaic (PV) panels and a battery capable of retaining the charge for 6 to 8 hours. She sheds light on the positive impacts: “We used to rely on candles and paraffin lamps which were more expensive and dangerous. We have now cut down a lot of costs – and can now use that money for other needs around the house.”

As solar-powered lights transform the lives of many across the district, the introduction of new clean cooking energy solutions is bringing additional benefits to both communities and the environment.

A journey to clean cooking  

Biogas plants, designed to convert organic waste into clean energy, have been installed at both the Central Hospital and Mikuyu Prison to replace traditional cookstoves fueled by wood and charcoal. Switching to clean cooking technologies is a priority in Zomba where the use of charcoal accounts for 67 percent of the district's energy consumption and has had an adverse impact on forest resources and local tourism.

Each plant can harness up to 200 kg of waste per day, leading to the production of clean, cost-effective biogas ready for cooking purposes.

The collective carbon equivalent offset achieved by these systems amounts to approximately 126 tonnes annually, which is comparable to the yearly emissions of 27 cars.

An additional benefit from the biogas plants can be found in its’ by-product from the production process, which can be used as a biofertilizer in surrounding fields. This is helping to reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers for agriculture.

Following consultations with the local communities, 2,000 households are now also using energy-efficient cookstoves after women took part in awareness raising sessions demonstrating how to use them. 

Edna Chimbalanga, a 29-year-old mother from Chilunga village, used to spend long hours in search of firewood. Over the years, the distance she had to cover increased, risking her safety and leaving her with almost no time to spend with her family. She highlights the added benefits of the stoves: “The new stoves require less time to prepare, and we are also spending less money on fuel. There isn’t a lot of smoke, unlike the open fires we have been using and we don’t experience the kind of coughs we used to. It also makes me happy knowing that my family is helping save our trees by using this type of stove.”

Shifting livelihoods, changing lives

Despite these improvements, the continued reliance on the charcoal trade for livelihoods poses a significant challenge to the District. Yayileka Jackson, a 34-year-old former charcoal burner, explains: “When you have been in the charcoal business selling for too long, getting caught by authorities is sometimes seen as just part of the daily life, because that is the only way some people know to earn a living.”

UNDP, in collaboration with local partners, facilitated the formation of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) to empower community members in developing alternative livelihoods that also support local development. These schemes enable communities to pool local savings and engage in mutual borrowing. Such schemes can help bring transformative change to communities, and especially women, who may lack access to or use of formal financial services.

Yayileka enrolled in a VSLA, which allowed him to stop trading charcoal. “Through Village Savings and Loans, my family was able to invest and open a grocery shop which helped increase our earnings. My community and I are now making a living in a way that doesn’t hurt the environment. We are even able to afford sending our son to get a quality education,” he says.

Savings and loan schemes are only one aspect of the focus on promoting collective action for resilient livelihoods. UNDP, alongside local partners, has also introduced beekeeping as a way to help locals generate income collectively.

To facilitate this, residents of Mirama have been provided with 90 beehives to engage in honey production and processing, along with the manufacturing of products such as candles made from beeswax. Local communities now have new income sources while also supporting the regeneration of plants and crops in the area, thanks to the pollination bees facilitate. The idea is that this project can serve as a replicable model for other communities in the future.

Acknowledging the importance of forest resources, some members are also engaging in reafforestation efforts, showcasing strong leadership throughout the entire process, including growing, planting, nurturing, and monitoring tree growth progress. At the national level, 375,000 tree seedlings have been planted, which represents a significant step to safeguard protected forests and advance climate-resilient farming practices, particularly through agroforestry.

Water for life

The need to enhance farmers' resilience has never been more apparent. The recent rainfall season was unpredictable, due to the current El Niño phenomenon affecting Malawi. As of December 2023, many parts of Malawi had not received adequate rainfall to initiate planting.

To strengthen adaptive capacity to unpredictable weather, UNDP deployed solar-powered irrigation schemes and water supply pumps to communities. Importantly, this was accompanied by trainings in innovative agricultural production methods to create immediate opportunities that help address food insecurity.

With the new irrigation system, which pumps underground water into tanks for farmers to use during insufficient rainfall, farmers can now cultivate two to three crops annually – compared to only one crop when they were reliant on rainfall only. With improved water availability, farmers are diversifying their crops beyond traditional maize and exploring more profitable options. They are also now assuming responsibility for the operation and management of the installations to ensure its benefits last long into the future.

As Malawi is urging for swift climate action to align with the Paris Agreement and global climate goals, its commitment through its NDC to transform these goals into reality is commendable. Communities across the country are stepping up and taking the lead, setting the course for climate-resilient development and providing a model for other nations to follow.

Despite the long road ahead, the rest of the world has much to learn from Malawi’s efforts and leadership in climate action.