What is Light Up Malawi?
One nation off the grid by bringing 100% sustainable energy to Malawi.
A strategic clean energy coalition for Malawi that benefits all parties: the people, business & government with a design feedback loop and entrepreneurial opportunities for villagers.
What problem does this organization aim to solve?
It’s 2010 and there are millions people living without access to power. These same people cook indoors and are often burnt by costly kerosene. Indoor pollution alone kills an estimated 2 million people a year, mostly women and children, while poor lighting and dirty fuels contribute to the vicious poverty cycle across the developing world. The biggest barriers to clean technology are government policy and distribution of affordable, high-quality products to customers off-the-grid. Light Up Malawi will address these barriers by building a coalition and working with the government to enable all parties to work together for one goal.
In the words of former World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, “Today, the global community is working to achieve a potential ‘double dividend’ —to meet the energy needs that are essential to fuel growth and to fight poverty on the one hand while preserving the environment on the other. Indeed these are not conflicting goals. It’s very hard to fight poverty if you then, in the process, destroy the environment.”
Why Malawi?
It is the one of the world’s poorest countries.
Only 2% of the population has access to electricity.
Malawi has had a stable and secure government with which we have ties.
It is the right size, the right needs and the right circumstances to make a big difference within.
On a personal note, Raina has family in Malawi and that is where her mother was raised and has been hearing stories about Malawi since childhood. We are also great fans of William Kamkwamba’s story and efforts. It is people like William that make the impossible, possible and we see that happening in Malawi easier and faster, than in other places at this time.
How will this work? What is the model?
As an umbrella organization we will work with existing parties on the ground in Malawi and align with other programs working towards clean energy access and poverty alleviation. We will focus on identifying benefits for ALL parties and crafting self-sustaining business models. By taking policy head on and all the way up to the top we will negotiate a mutually beneficial program that will allow the providers of alternative energy solutions to easily run pilot programs with lower tariffs. The government will also receive benefits both measurable (economic,health) and not (credibility, reputation, goodwill). Most importantly, the people of Malawi will benefit three-fold: 1) Receive products at low or no cost, subsidized by grant funding and donations we will raise that will improve their lives. 2) Become entrepreneurs and product evangelists if they choose and 3) Participate in the design process instead of being designed AT. All of this makes Malawi a capital for clean energy.
Within one year we will have a profit model that is agreed to by energy providers, and hopefully have some government sanctions to keep the costs low. We would keep ourselves scaling via administrative costs and set up fees- as one idea or by taking profit share. We would also have the foundations that are donating money not donate to us, but rather help subsidize the first few villages where we would want 100% penetration – so the cost to the end user is affordable. As solar and other technologies become less expensive, more of that funding goes towards expanding our user base and administrative resources.
Distribution is key. Partnering with existing aid workers such as CARE and supplementing other projects around health and finance, with an energy partner is what we intend to do. Much of the ground would require footwork by staff and volunteers and a program around that would be developed. Marketing and consumer education would happen via mobile phones and radio and perhaps some print – but most importantly would be village by village demos, walk throughs and word of mouth. The franchisees are whom we think are our best ambassadors.
Where are you in the process?
We are out of the concept stage and moving towards action. We have begun the official communication process with the government and awaiting confirmation for meetings with key government officials. We have secured committed lobbyists in Malawi to assist us. From that point on, there will be multiple presentations and strategy sessions to pinpoint what it would take to begin the program in a few villages. We have created a criteria/filter by which we will be vetting all technology partners and providers. Their products must be quality. Also, we have created a strong brand that acts as a force for change. It has attracted an extended team that have already committed to helping us ensure success with large donor foundations, individual contributions, technology, research and other resources.
There are many solar projects happening in Malawi from both public and private institutions that we have identified as potential partners. Solar Aid began their mission to bring solar energy to Africa in Malawi, but then moved on to a bigger focus. Lighting Africa – a World Bank project, African Energy, Green Energy and Solar village programs by Unesco and others are some of the examples of the players in this space that we would work with.
What is the mission and the vision?
This is a long term project to help 12 million people with sustainable solutions but we would love to see it ported everywhere, including the USA. By starting in Malawi, we hope to prove to the world that if you can do it here, you can do it anywhere. That is, with the right approach! 526 Million people in sub-saharan Africa don’t have access to electricity. That’s not to be dismissed, but 800 million lack power in Asia. The tangibles are increased health, education, employment, and quality of life and yes, ending poverty one sustainable solution at a time is our overarching goal.
Its 2010. We can do this!