As one way of advancing knowledge, skills and information on Green and Inclusive Energy (GIE), Renew’N’Able Malawi (RENAMA) attended a meeting that was held by Youth Activists Initiative Organization (YAIO). The meeting took place on September 27, 2017 in Blantyre. YAIO was meeting to update its stakeholders on their ‘My Life Starts Now’ project. Understanding the important role non-energy related Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), RENAMA used the meetings an opportunity to advocate for GIE.

The organization is coordinating the Malawian partnership on GIE with support from Hivos International. Other organizations in the partnership include Youth Network and Counselling (YONECO), National Association of Business Women (NABW), Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) and Community Energy Malawi (CEM)

The GIE project implemented by RENAMA, with support from Hivos International, is Driving-Top-Of-Mind Awareness on GIE in Malawi. Working with non-energy related CSOs to increases rural Malawian’s advocacy power is among the three objectives of the project. In addition, this is done to expose people to various of-grid solutions to energy.

Speaking as a facilitator of the meeting, Executive Director for YAIO, Tony Khanyepa, welcomed RENAMA’s team, which comprised of Wonderful Mkhutche, Advocacy and Communications Officer and Kenneth Mtago who is the project’s Advocacy Officer. YAIO is working with primary schools in the Southern Region of Malawi in advancing sexual and reproductive health information.

Kenneth Mtago’s presentation was centered on energy poverty, its impact at a household and national level and the available solutions for both. He defined energy poverty as lack of access to sustainable energy.  It should be reiterated that only 10 percent of Malawi’s population have access to grid-electricity, consequently meaning that 90 percent are still relying on biomass for their energy needs. This further emphasizes the dire situation Malawi currently faces with regards to energy poverty. To address the situation, the Advocacy Officer emphasized the necessity of CSOs working alongside their communities to find solutions.

“Community energy solutions is the way to go. You can facilitate the establishment of energy hubs where people will borrow solar powered torches for lighting and battery charging or barber shop for income generating activities,” Mtago said.

The content attracted applause from the audience as some contributors resonated with the issue of energy poverty. The country’s sole grid-electricity generator and distributor, Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM), faces low water levels to power its hydropower plants. Thismeans that even the 10 percent of the population that have direct access to electricity often have intermittent power supply.

Speaking at the conclusion of the ceremony, District Youth Officer for Blantyre Urban, Daudi Ngwala, thanked RENAMA for coming with the initiative at the right time.

“You have enlightened us,” he said, emphasizing the point on the availability of off-grid household and community energy solutions.