Project ID: 5270
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Technical team
- Energy Programme
Technical area(s)
- Energy access
- Renewable Energy
Sub-area(s)
- Electricity access
- Type: Off-grid, mini-grids
- Resource: Hydro
- Resource: Solar
Landscape(s)
- Human altered areas
Sub-landscape(s)
- Rural areas
Transformed sector(s)
- Energy
UNDP role(s)
- Capacity development / Technical assistance
- Data collection and analysis
- Policy advice
Strategy
- Capacity building
- Governance
- Technology innovation
Sub-strategy
- Technical capacity building
- Institutional capacity building
- Awareness raising
- Laws/ Policy/ Plan formulation
- Institutional framework
- Clearing house mechanism
Social inclusion
- Women
- Local community/CSOs
- Private sector
Gender equality
- Awareness raising (on gender)
Gender result effectiveness scale
- Gender targeted
Pathway(s)
- Sci-tech pathway
- People pathway
- Systems pathway
Risk reduction target(s)
- Improve resilience
- Hazard control/mitigation
SDG target(s)
- 7.1 Ensure universal access to sustainable, reliable energy
- 7.2 Increase share of global renewable energy
Conventions and protocols
N/A
Private sector(s)
- Individuals/Entrepreneurs
Hot topic
- Public-private partnership
- Multi-stakeholder collaboration
- Poverty reduction
About this project
Description
Malawi is one of the least electrified countries in the SADC region, with an average per capita consumption of 85 kWh per annum – among the lowest in the world. Provision of sufficient, reliable and clean energy in Malawi is a critical challenge, as recognized by the Government which has put energy as a focus area in both the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy II (MDGS 2011 - 2016) and the Economic Recovery Plan (2012). The demand for electricity by far exceeds the installed capacity and new generation capacity is urgently needed, with the government focused on promoting diversified sources and utilization of the country's abundant renewable energy resources – particularly micro-hydro and solar. Under SE4All the government has committed to ambitious 2015/202 targets for increasing energy access and renewable energy supply.To increase access, effort is needed to develop power plants and mini-grids close to the end users in the rural areas and since financial resources are scarce, investments for new generation can only be leveraged by involving the private sector and social enterprises. Given the more remote locations of many of the communities that need to be served, and the cost reductions in renewable energy technologies, an important vehicle for meeting these targets will be clean energy mini-grids.This project addresses rural electrification barriers in rural Malawi where 96% of people do not have electricity access. The project will scale up and strengthen Malawi's first mini-grid, independent vertically-integrated energy company operated as a social enterprise; provide micro-capital grants and pilot innovative service arrangements for clean energy mini-grids; build capacity on mini-grids and rural electrification at the sub-national and national levels; develop an information clearing house on clean energy mini-grids for project developers; and recommend ways to mainstream mini-grids into national rural electrification financing platforms and energy regulatory frameworks. It is expected that the project will set the stage for mini-grids to play a key role going forward in electrifying rural parts of Malawi, thereby assisting the country in meeting its SE4All targets.Mainstream mini-grids into national rural electrification and energy regulatory framework. It is expected that the CEMREM will provide the basis for mini-grids to play a key role in electrifying rural Malawi.
Objectives
To increase access to energy in selected remote, rural areas in Malawi by promoting innovative, community-based mini-grid applications in cooperation with the private sector and civil society.
USD $1,825,000
Grant amount
USD $22,785,000
Leveraged amount (co-financing)
1
Source(s) of fund
Sources of fund
- Global Environment Facility – Trust Fund ($1,825,000)
Implementing partner(s)
- Government of Malawi
Related resources
Geospatial information
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Project reports and documentation