A joint initiative funded by the Joint SDG Fund and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is helping climate-displaced communities in Malawi rebuild their lives through clean energy solutions following the devastating impacts of Cyclone Freddy.
The programme supports families relocated to communities in Chikwawa and Chiradzulu, where thousands lost homes, farmland, and livelihoods due to severe flooding. To address energy poverty and improve living conditions, households received energy-efficient clean cookstoves that reduce firewood consumption, improve indoor cooking safety, and enable families to cook under shelter during adverse weather conditions.
In Champhanda, the programme also installed a 6-kilowatt solar mini-grid consisting of 15 solar panels and four battery storage units. The renewable energy system now provides reliable electricity to 30 households and powers community floodlights, improving safety, education, and daily life. The mini-grid meets national energy standards, and plans are already underway to expand its capacity to 10 kilowatts.
Beyond rural relocation sites, the initiative also reached Dzaleka Refugee Camp, where UNHCR installed a pellet-making machine that converts agricultural and organic waste into clean cooking fuel. The facility has already produced 15,000 cooking pellets benefiting approximately 1,400 households, while the broader intervention supports around 10,000 people across 2,500 households, reducing dependence on firewood and creating opportunities for community-based enterprises.
The programme places strong emphasis on long-term sustainability by training 14 local artisans, primarily young people, to install and maintain solar energy systems. A locally managed Village Energy Committee now oversees the operation and maintenance of the solar mini-grid through affordable household contributions, while local authorities are supporting the committee with financial resilience initiatives.
In addition to community-level investments, the project has contributed to national climate policy by supporting the review of Malawi’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plan, ensuring that climate-induced displacement and human mobility are incorporated into future climate resilience strategies.
Building on its early success, the programme will expand during 2026 through the European Union-funded Regional Responses to Climate Displacement Programme, increasing solar energy capacity, extending clean cooking solutions to additional households, and replicating the model in new districts. The initiative demonstrates how integrating renewable energy, community participation, and climate resilience can improve living conditions, strengthen local economies, and support sustainable recovery for communities affected by climate disasters.
