Kumudzi Kuwale
In the Nkhotakota region, only three per cent of the population has access to electricity. The enterprise provides renewable energy solutions in off-grid communities in three ways: through stores providing solar energy appliances like cook stoves and lanterns, and through village electrification via charging stations and via installing larger-scale solar energy systems.
The enterprise promotes a full set of energy services and electrical installations that is unique within Malawi while offering vocational skills training and employment. Greater access to stable energy sources creates more entrepreneurial and business opportunities in communities, extends hours of operation for businesses and helps to increase agricultural output by energising irrigation systems. Households additionally save on energy costs.
- Increasing information dissemination through solar-powered radios, TVs and mobile phones.
- Reducing exposure to indoor air pollution from kerosene use.
- Increasing access to lighting, improving opportunities for students to study at night.
- Reducing deforestation as the use of wood as a fuel source decreases.
- Reducing carbon emissions with the increase in clean cookstoves use.
- Reducing hazardous waste materials ending up in landfills as non-rechargeable battery-powered lamps are replaced.
- Creating more opportunities for off-grid business ventures and extending business operation hours.
- Enabling long-term savings on energy costs.
- Increasing agricultural yields as solar energy can be used to power irrigation schemes.
Partners
Kumudzi Kuwale Ltd. is a company developing sustainable off-grid energy solutions in the Nkhotakota region of Malawi.
Nkhotakota Youth Organisation (NYO) supports the company through its local community connections, providing workshops in electrical installation, construction and entrepreneurship.
Flora Upper Secondary High School in Norway supports the enterprise financially via fundraisers and an exchange programme funded by FK Norway.