The document summarizes a project in Malawi that aimed to address deforestation by promoting locally-made fuel-efficient stoves. It discusses how the project trained local groups to produce stoves, marketed them in rural communities, and saw many benefits including reduced firewood use, increased income, and improved education. Over 25,000 stoves were distributed, benefiting over 180,000 people, and the program was expanded nationally with the goal of distributing two million stoves by 2020. The project demonstrated that a social marketing approach to stove production and adoption can effectively address energy and environmental issues in rural Africa.

1. for people, for good
Locally made
Fuel–efficient Stoves
create Jobs and
save Trees
in Malawi

2. for people, for good
Who and Where
Rural poor subsistence-
farming households:
180,370 people in 321
communities
in the Msamala area, Balaka
District, Malawi.
15,000 rural school children

3. for people, for good
The problems
Firewood only source of cooking fuel
> But deforestation increasing
>> Scarcity of firewood
>>> More Time and danger
No alternatives to
subsistence farming
Rural schools not
attracting teachers

4. for people, for good
The solution
Improve sustainable access to, and the use of, energy. So
focus on fuel-efficient cooking
Holistic approach; link to wider development
Local enterprises – rather than selling or handing-out
imported stoves

5. for people, for good
What we did
1. Raised awareness of energy issues
2. Trained groups to make the stoves
3. Marketed these
stoves locally

6. for people, for good
What we did (2):
4. Stoves and woodlots at health centres
5. Solar PV in rural primary schools
6. Enabled community forest management
7. New sustainable
businesses for
charcoal burners and
fuel-wood vendors

7. for people, for good
Achievements (2009-2013)
• 25,000 stoves made, 96% in use
• 100 fixed stoves at 9 health centres
• 20 remote schools with solar PV
• 505 ha of village forest areas.
• 6,500,000 tree seedlings planted
• 4,436 households in new businesses, incl. 954
former charcoal burners & traders

8. for people, for good
Impacts
Beneficiaries’ income doubled
Firewood use 60% lower
saving money, labour and time
people eating better
Health guardians
more time with
patients

9. for people, for good
Impacts (2):
Schools providing better education
- Improved exam results
- More go on to secondary school
Teachers staying
in rural posts

10. for people, for good
Scaling-up
Replication in other districts: 60,000+ stoves now
made and distributed
Concern Universal managing the national
programme for two million stoves by 2020

11. for people, for good
Innovations
School income enabled by electricity
Food-energy systems piloted (pigeon pea)
Thermo-electric generator tested
Carbon finance

12. for people, for good
Conclusions
Project addressed both the supply side
(afforestation) and the demand side (fuel saving
stoves)
Showed a social marketing approach to stove
production and adoption can work
This is a model that can be replicated elsewhere in
rural Africa and beyond

13. for people, for good
Conclusions (2)
Good collaboration between forestry, education,
environment, community development and energy
Worked with decentralized government structures to
increased coverage and sustainability
So energy projects should link with other issues for
greater impact

14. for people, for good
Thank you!