Malawi

Reduce Deforestation, Improve Livelihoods: Large-Scale Solar Ovens for Bakery Cooperatives

Organisation

Community Energy Malawi

Website

Support area

Conserving natural carbon sinks

Funding

206980 €

Project duration

Jun, 2024 – May, 2026

With only 14 per cent of Malawi’s population having access to electricity, biomass is the main energy source. Nevertheless, the energy sector is responsible for a quarter of the country’s CO2 emissions. By 2040, emissions are predicted to triple under the business-as-usual scenario.

This IKI Small Grants project aims to pilot climate-neutral, renewable energy sources for commercial users in the Karonga and Zomba Districts. It targets two bakery cooperatives consisting of 61 cooperative members, including 53 women and ten youth, as well as 210 policymakers. The number of beneficiaries is estimated at about 2,500 people. Users get trained in the use and in business management of two solar ovens that are built by the project. The cooperatives are supported in the reforestation of degraded forest areas.

In addition, selected young people are trained in the production of solar ovens for subsequent dissemination, including the promotion of business start-ups.

Capacity development

IKI Small Grants supports Community Energy Malawi in their capacity development through the following activities:

Engaging an M&E expert to help with the development of a CEM M&E System
Staff training to learn about the CEM M&E System
Gender Transformative Climate Approach implementation
Strategic Plan Review through organisation development
Staff training on the areas of conservation, restoration, nature based solution and Disaster Risk Reduction
Internal staff trainings on digital communication
Practical trainings in video editing and graphic design for digital communications
Trainings on Knowledge Management platforms

About the organisation

Community Energy Malawi (CEM) is an organisation working in renewable energy both implementing projects and in policy advocacy for about 10 years.

CEM in partnership with COMSIP and Community Energy Scotland successfully delivered a similar initiative in 2019-2021. The project “Solar Ovens for Cooperative Growth” was financed by the Climate Justice Innovation Fund of the Scottish Government. CEM is experienced in deploying renewable energy technologies in rural areas e.g. 80kW Solar Minigrid benefiting over 6,000 people, solar energy hubs for cold storage and irrigation and resilient solar systems for hospitals.