COMMUNITY ENERGY MALAWINEWSLETTER

VOLUME 1 / ISSUE 2 DEC 2019 - JAN 2020

In this issue :

- Launch of Sitolo mini grid- Interview with Moses Gondwe- Solar energy ovens installed in Zomba and Kasungu- Districts try energy officers

MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTRY DIRECTOR

Together with my colleagues and member organizations at Community Energy Malawi (CEM), I welcome you all to 2020. We closed 2019 on a high note and hope to pick up from there. On December 23, 2019 the Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Hon. Bintony Kutsaira MP, commissioned 80kWp Sitolo Solar Mini Grid in Mchinji, one of the projects we are implementing in partnership with Community Energy Scotland and with support from Government of Malawi, UNDP and GEF. In 2020, we will continue working with COMSIP and Community Energy Scotland to support cooperatives in Zomba and Kasungu with Solar Ovens for their baking businesses instead of firewood. In Dedza and Balaka we will also have energy hubs to transform selected trading centers through EASE project with support from the Scottish Government

through University of Strathclyde. We are also continuing our advocacy for the adoption and favorable policies on Green and Inclusive Energy in Malawi with support from Hivos. Promoting productive uses of energy will be central in our projects. As an organization that implements Renewable Energy projects across the country, we are excited to see the progress and impact of our work. We have been widely commended for quality and timely work delivery but this has not been because of our own efforts. Several stakeholders have been part of this success and let me take time to extend our appreciation. This year we look forward to working together as we did in the previous years, and have more new partners as well. May this year be fruitful in all our endeavors

EDGAR KAPIZA BAYANI

Count ry Direct or

Community Energy Malawi is a Malawian charity organization and

works with communities across Malawi with passion about Renewable Energy in a national and international network, both implementing projects

and influencing policy.

Vision

- Affordable and sustainable energy for Malawian communities.

Mission

- To enable communities in Malawi create sustainable renewable energy solutions to meet their energy needs.

Object ives

- To build knowledge, capacity and confidence in communities on the development, installation and management of renewable energy projects.

- To raise awareness of the potential of renewable energy to address community needs.

- To identify, acquire and enable communities access funds for the purpose of community energy development.

- To create and facilitate a mutually supportive network of

community group members.- To represent members in making

the case for the creation of a supportive policy and regulatory framework in the energy sector.

Our services

- Networking of organizations and individuals with interest in renewable energy.

- Raising awareness on potential of renewable energy.

- Capacity building in renewable energy technologies.

- Lobbying and advocacy on renewable energy.

- Fund raising for funding renewable energy technologies.

CEM BRIEF PROFILE

Energy Minist er Launches Sit olo Solar Mini Gr id

On December 23, 2019 Minister of Energy, Natural Resources and Mining, Bintony Kutsaira, officially launched the 80KWp Sitolo Solar mini grid in Mchinji. Community Energy Malawi (CEM) is implementing the project with support from GEF, UNDP and Government of Malawi ? Department of Energy Affairs.

The mini grid has had huge impact in the area with 150 houses connected so far. It is a new world for Sitolo, one they were expecting from the national grid. But mini grid has proven to be the best way for rural areas like Sitolo have access to clean and affordable energy.

As such the project is currently being expanded to nearby areas of Ndawambe and Molosiyo. When these will be connected, the number of households will be over 1, 000.

?This is a remote area and is almost 14 kilometers away from where the national grid is but today the people here have got power, so this is a clear demonstration of

the government?s desire that everybody in Malawi should be connected,? said the Minister.

On his part UNDP Portfolio Manager, Andrew Spezowka, said it is the wish of the agency to see that Malawians have electricity. He further said that this is according to Sustainable Development Goal 7 which is on access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030.

CEM?s Country Director, Edgar Bayani, agreed with Spezowka on the need to connect Malawians, especially rural areas with electricity.

?Only 2 percent of the rural population in Malawi is connected to the national grid. There is need for us to combine our efforts and make sure we deliver on this,? he said.

Apart from domestic use, the Sitolo solar mini grid is also powering several businesses in the area including a Maize mill. This has turned the fortunes of most people in the area through income generating activities as well as having services within reach.

Note: Additional reporting by Faith Kadzanja, the Daily Times newspaper of Thursday, December 26, 2019

Minister of Energy during opening of Sitolo mini grid

Int erview w it h CEM?s Power House Technician, Moses Gondwe

The launch of Sitolo solar mini grid in Mchinji by Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Bintony Kutsaira on December 23 last year followed a dedicated work by Community Energy Malawi (CEM) and supporting partners, Government of Malawi ? Department of Energy Affairs, UNDP and GEF. But there is one foot soldier, CEM?s Power House Technician, Moses Gondwe. We caught up with him for more.

How was t he launch of t he m ini gr id?

The launch went on well as we had the Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Hon. Bintony Kutsaira, with us. There were also other distinguished dignitaries from Government of Malawi and UNDP. They all toured the village to see for themselves the impact this project has in Sitolo. It was evident that they were impressed with what has happened in this area.

How excit ed are you t hat f inally people in Sit olo now have elect r icit y?

I am very excited. We started this work when there was darkness in this area, but now there is light. Income generating activities as well were limited to those that did not need electricity. But with the coming of the electricity there is diversity of businesses and incomes. Nothing feels rewarding than being part of this transformation.

What is your role in t he im plem ent at ion of t he project ?

In general, my role is to be a go-between the

community and CEM. As such I have to do the ground technical work with the committee as well as the community based technicians. To make this project sustainable, we have been working with community members and structures at all levels. This has been a success as the committee and technicians are now able to run the project with me now taking a supervisory role.

What have been challenges so far?

At first, people in the area did not understand solar electricity. Some even thought that we would have a solar panel for each house. In addition, some doubted that solar electricity could power a Maize mill. But now they have seen that electricity generation is done from huge solar panels and that it can power a Maize mill. We would like to connect to more people but some households are facing challenges raising the connection fee. But more are still paying and we believe by time all will be connected.

It is being said t hat t he project is expanding t o ot her sur rounding areas of Molosiyo and Ndawam be. How m any people w il l be reached t hrough t h is?

Yes, it is true. These two surrounding areas will also be connected to the mini grid. This will make the project reach out to over 1, 000 houses. Currently, it is connecting over 150 houses in Sitolo alone. With the number of houses to be connected increasing, this means the number of beneficiaries as well. The positive changes in Sitolo will also be the story of Molosiyo and Ndawambe. As CEM, we are proud to be part of this great shift in people?s fortunes.

As a t echnical exper t , how do you look at t he viabil i t y of harnessing t he Sun for energy?

Government of Malawi would like to see universal access to energy by 2030, according to Sustainable Development Goal 7. We cannot only rely on the national grid to connect the 90 percent of Malawian population which is not connected to the grid. But there is potential in water and Sun as energy sources in some areas. These should be harnessed to provide energy where it is needed. Therefore, mini grids are the way to go if we want to improve the rate of connection.

Thank you!

Gondwe briefing the minister on the project

Solar Energy Ovens Inst alled in Zom ba and Kasungu

It was just a dream, a wish and an idea. But finally, the solar energy ovens for Sakata and Chang?ombe Cooperatives in Zomba and Kasungu,respectively, have now been installed. This follows the work of Community Energy Malawi (CEM) and Community Savings and Investment Promotion (COMSIP) with support from Community Energy Scotland (CES).

The two cooperatives have been using firewood for their baking business. This was contributing to wanton cutting down of trees in the areas. But they still needed to continue with the business as it was providing an income to the members. This is why through COMSIP, they explored on using solar energy ovens with technical expertise from CEM, as said by Chawezi Gondwe, the organizations Energy Development Officer.

?Instead of closing their bakery because

of the damage they were doing on the environment, we resolved to provide them with solar energy ovens. The ovens have now been installed,? he said.

He added: ?What we are now left with is training the two cooperatives on using and maintaining them. We would like to see them being sustained.?

CEM is also working with the two cooperatives in planting over 10, 000 tree seedlings to refurnish the environment.

According to Dorothy Chindamba of Sakata Cooperative in Zomba, the present development has excited them as they will be able to produce more while saving the environment.

?We are happy at this. This is what we have been looking forward to for the past several months. The ovens are easy to operate, they produce more bread and save the environment, something we always wished for,? she said.

The cooperatives are a source of income for the members. They are used as Village Banks where members are able to borrow money at an interest and share dividends at the end of the year. This has improved income in households of the members.

CEMs Lusungu Kumwenda installing the oven in zomba

Dist r ict s t ry energy of f icers

Energy experts are talking about decentralized solutions for unreached populations, but nearly all 28 districts have no energy officers to simplify the supply of ?power to the people?.

The vacancy filled by Estrida Nyirenda in Dedza two years ago remains a major pitfall in devolution of State powers to districts.

To her shock, Dedza District Council officials often lamented persistent blackouts in their homes with litt le or no concern for unmet needs of the district?s rural majority, which lives without electricity.

She explains: ?Being the first ever district energy officer, I found the council officials mostly unaware of the power of renewable energy to improve service delivery and transform livelihoods. So, senstisation had to start from within.

Nyirenda has been working in Dedza since October 2018.

?I first met council officials to unpack my role before we started senstising community members to benefits of putting sustainable energy at the centre of development initiatives.?

New policy at work

Nyirenda is one of the two district energy officers Community Energy Malawi (CEM) deployed in line with the revised National Energy Policy. Her colleague, Louis Yona works in Balaka.

The duo trains community workers from the departments of agriculture, forestry, health and environment for the good of populations

struggling to beat poverty.

?We involve them in everything we do and we are working together to help communities understand energy solutions they need and why they should insist on genuine accessories, not fakes often seen in many markets,? Nyirenda states.

The district energy officers also hold open-air campaigns in partnership with Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) and Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) officials to make hearers aware of energy standards.

?When we go to a marketplace, we show the audience genuine products and link them with certified dealers they can hold to account if they don?t get value for their money. This is important because the rush for fakes, including solar panels and batteries, leaves customers feeling renewable energy is a raw deal,? explains Yona.

The policy Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Bintony Kutsaira unveiled last year requires all 28 districts to have energy officers as guides in national efforts towards ensuring sustainable energy for all.

With the Department of Energy Affairs confined to Lilongwe, people outside the capital have no expert voice to turn to for energy-related information and solutions.

?We have been talking about devolution of power and vital functions from central government since the adoption of the National Decentralization Policy in 1998, but very few agencies are decentralized? agriculture, education, health and social welfare. In Dedza and Balaka, energy is new in the mix and most decisions are still made at Capital Hill,? says Obed Mwalughali, director of planning and development at Balaka District Council.

He hopes the deployment of district energy officers will speed up implementation of the new policy in rural communities. The policy promotes diversification of energy sources from the hydropower national grid to wind, solar and geothermal energy for decentralised mini-grids.

?Central government makes the policies and the

Nyirenda: One of the district energy officers

agencies. Government needs to recruit district energy officers,? he says.

CEM executive director Edgar Bayani says the energy officers are foot soldiers in accelerating advances towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number seven? ensuring access to reliable, affordable, clean and sustainable energy for all by 2030.

?SDGs emphasize leaving no one behind, so we need not forget rural Malawians when we talk about sustainable energy for all. The energy officers will be handy to both duty-bearers and citizens who need reliable advice on energy matters,? he explains.

The 2018 census shows rural dwellers constitute 84 percent of the country?s population but only four percent has been connected to the national grid since 1980.

Principal energy officer Saidi Banda says the lessons from Balaka will inform government plans to deploy energy officers nationwide.

He explains: ?This will be a gradual process. However, presently, the Department of Energy Affairs works with relevant and knowledgeable officers in councils to reduce the unmet need.

?When we met council officials from all districts, we noted that district development plans didn?t have energy indicators. We worked with district environmental officers to formulate the indicators,? he explains.

But Arnold Juma, who participated in the policy review, says the country needs district energy officers with adequate knowledge of how energy transforms people, learning, healthcare, business and productivity.

?The new policy must be implemented accordingly. We need energy officers to make it work and entrench policy statements into district development plans. We need people who can articulate energy issues at lower level and give people correct information to meet their energy needs,? he says.

Productive use

The deployment of energy officers in Dedza and

Balaka is part of an initiative to increase rural access to energy through social enterprise and decentralization. The project is funded by the Scottish Government in partnership with CEM, United Purpose and University of Strathclyde.

?When people put energy to productive use, the change is discernible,? says Damien Frame, from the university in Glasgow. ?The energy officers will contribute to increased access to energy for rural communities, thereby improving livelihoods and economic development through the capacity building and sustainable businesses.?

Note : The article was written by James Chavula and was published in The Nation newspaper of Friday, January 17, 2020, page 25.

CEM energy officer in Balaka : Yona

CONTACTSCommunity Energy Malawi

Area 14, Plot No. 34

Private Bag B408

Capital City

Lilongwe 3

Facebook: Community Energy Malawi ? CEM

Twitter: @ComEnergyMalawi

Email: info@communityenergymalawi.org

Website: www.communityenergymalawi.org

Tel: 01772832

Content organization: Wonderful Mkhutche

Design and layout: Patience Kavalo

Pictures: Chawezi Gondwe

ACKNOWLEGEMENTS