Self Help Africa Rolls Out Energy Access Project in Dowa

Self Help Africa (SHA), one of Malawi’s largest distributors of cookstoves, is set to implement a 21-month Malawi Demand-Side Subsidies Project aimed at expanding access to improved energy technologies in Dowa District.

The project aligns with the Malawi 2063 Enabler 7 on Environmental Sustainability and supports the Dowa District Development Plan (DDP), which targets an increase in access to clean and affordable energy from 37 percent to 50 percent, connecting 280,212 households by 2030.

The initiative will provide fiscal incentives for environmentally friendly cooking equipment, promote energy use, and support efforts to increase electricity access to 50 percent by 2030. It also seeks to raise the population relying primarily on clean cooking energy by 3.16 percent.

Launching the project to the District Executive Committee (DEC) in Dowa, CUMO’s Project Coordinator Clement Mwinjira — a subcontractor for SHA — said the 21-month project may be extended by an additional nine months through to March 2026.

Mwinjira described the project as a pilot initiative, currently being tested in Liberia, Niger, and Uganda. In Malawi, districts including Nkhata Bay, Salima, Dedza, Balaka, Kasungu, Dowa, and Mzimba have been selected based on the full availability of Unified Beneficiary Register (UBR) data.

“These districts were chosen due to their low electrification rates, the strong presence of Off-Grid Solar (OGS) systems, and the availability of implementation partners,” he explained. “The project is financed by Endev, with Self Help Africa managing the budget and implementation, and CUMO as a key subcontractor.”

Mwinjira highlighted the energy access gap, noting that only 15.6 percent of Malawi’s population has electricity access—54 percent in urban areas and just 6 percent in rural areas, where over 80 percent of the population resides.

“The project is designed to tackle the affordability barrier to Off-grid Solar (OGS) products, particularly targeting ultra-poor and vulnerable households who are typically excluded from commercial energy markets and public initiatives,” he said.

Speaking at the launch, Dowa District Council’s Director of Planning and Development, Mercy Mpakule, urged all partners involved in energy-related projects to collaborate closely with Self Help Africa to ensure the initiative achieves its intended impact in the district.

The Malawi Demand-Side Subsidies Project is supported by Endev with a total budget of €3,499,999.