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USAID Southern Africa – Electricity Impact on Community – Journalistic Photography

Power Africa Solar Home Systems Malawi | Journalistic Photographer South Africa

Monsoon Photography traveled to Malawi in July 2019 for Southern Africa Energy Program (SAEP). We captured the “Power Solar Home System Kick-Starter Program” in Lilongwe as well as impact photography in Lilongwe and Blantyre. Journalistic photographers South Africa.

Did you know? There are currently approximately 3.2 million Malawian households without power.

Empowering Communities in Malawi

We had the pleasure of accompanying the team from Yellow Solar Power around Lilongwe to capture BioLite SolarHome installations and see the impact on the community firsthand! The BioLite SolarHome 620 brings modern lighting, energy, and entertainment to transform any structure into an off-grid home. The easy-to-install 6-watt solar panel captures daily sun to charge a 20 Wh control box which powers 3 hanging lights, USB charge-out, and an MP3/FM radio system.

“Malawi’s energy sector has gone through important sector reform efforts recently, including the unbundling of the national utility, the Electric Supply Company of Malawi (ESCOM) and the establishment of the Electricity Generation Company of Malawi (EGENCO). The restructuring of Malawi’s power market is underway, with strong investor interest and political will for Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to enter the market. Power Africa (PA) is supporting 100 MWs of new solar PV generation to come online by the end of 2019.” – Power Africa

Currently, a mere 1% of rural households have power and as little as 46% in urban areas of  Malawi. This indicates that 3.2 million households are without power. Power Africa is aiming to establish 108 400 new grid connections and 163 400 off-grid connections PA. This will increase the current connection access rate from 10.8% to 30% by 2030. Enriching many lives and bringing hope to one of the poorest countries in the world.

The guys from Urban Dynamix Media acted as Monsoon’s assistants in Lilongwe (we highly recommend them if you’re looking for a photographer in Malawi!)


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BioLite SolarHome 620 Installation in Lilongwe by Yellow Solar Power (©Monsoon Photography)
USAID-Malawi-Power-Africa-Journalistic-Photographer-Pretoria-South-Africa
BioLite SolaHome 620 Installation in Lilongwe by Yellow Solar Power (©Monsoon Photography)
Yellow Solar Power Malawi Electricity
BioLite SolarHome 620 Installation in Lilongwe by Yellow Solar Power (©Monsoon Photography)

The Impact of Electricity

The impact of how electricity transforms rural areas is astounding. Access to electricity not only ends energy poverty but also enables communities to enjoy the simple things we often take for granted. Imagine being able to read by light, charge a mobile phone, work indoors or cook on a stovetop for the first time. Electricity reduces the manual workload for food processing thus reducing working hours. It also ends cooking over a fire indoors that produces smoky households.

The most striking difference is having light indoors after dark. Without electricity, the only light at night is dim, dangerous kerosene lamps or candles. Electricity minimizes the backbreaking labour of hauling water and firewood to homes on a daily basis. Powering poor communities empowers and enriches their lives and creates a better future for all.

We thoroughly enjoyed capturing the impact of electricity connections on Malawian communities.

USAID Power Africa Solar Power Malawi
Reading by Solar Light (©Monsoon Photography)
USAID Power Africa Solar Power Malawi
Mobile Phone Charging Station & Light (©Monsoon Photography)
USAID Power Africa Solar Power Malawi
Solar Light – Empowering Small Business Owners (©Monsoon Photography)

 

USAID Power Africa Journalistic Photographer South Africa
Mobile Phone Charging Station & Solar Light (©Monsoon Photography)
USAID Power Africa Journalistic Photographer South Africa
Solar Light – Empowering School Children (©Monsoon Photography)
USAID Power Africa Journalistic Photographer South Africa
Solar Light – Cooking Indoors at Night (©Monsoon Photography)
Commercial Photographer South Africa USAID Electricity Impact on Communities
Solar Power – Empowering Small Business Owners (©Monsoon Photography)
Journalistic Photographer South Africa USAID Electricity Impact on Communities
Solar Light – Enabling Household Chores at Night (©Monsoon Photography)
Commercial Photographer South Africa USAID Electricity Impact on Communities
Solar Light – Empowering Families at Night (©Monsoon Photography)
Commercial Photographer South Africa USAID Electricity Impact on Communities
Solar Light – Enabling Cooking by Light (©Monsoon Photography)

USAID Southern Africa & Power Africa

The “Power Solar Home System Kick-Starter Program for Malawi” launch ceremony was held on 16 July 2019 in Lilongwe, Malawi. A $2 million (USD) grant fund was awarded to four solar home system (SHS) companies by The USAID – US Agency for International Development, in support of Power Africa. USAID estimates that the program will add 100 000 to 150 000 electricity connections to Malawi. The SHS companies are Solarworks!VITALITE ZambiaYellow Solar Power, and Zuwa Energy!

Commercial Journalistic Photographer South Africa

Monsoon Photography offers commercial journalistic photography services in South Africa. We also travel across southern Africa on assignments. Enquire on commercial photography pricing/quotes. We have over 15 years of experience in event photography, on-site industrial photography and journalistic style shots. Monsoon especially excels in the science & technology fields. Our clients include the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA), The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF), The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Southern Africa Energy Program (SAEP).

We also love to travel and explore our diverse continent! Get in touch for a quote on commercial, industrial or journalistic photography.

USAID Southern Africa – Malawi Solar Systems Photography

Power Solar Home System Kick-Starter Program for Malawi | Journalistic Photographer Pretoria

As commercial photographers, we often leave our Pretoria based office to travel to southern African countries. Our journalistic photography services took us to Malawi in July 2019. Malawi is a southeast African country defined by its topography of highlands split by the Great Rift Valley. It is also home to the enormous Lake Malawi. This country is not bestowed with great mineral wealth or exceptionally fertile soil for agriculture. It is landlocked and therefore highly dependent on imports for essential commodities. Malawi is struggling with high population growth despite its small size. One of the poorest countries in the world today even though it has seen 55 years of independence.

Did you know? Approximately two out of three people in sub-Saharan Africa lack access to electricity. 

USAID & Power Africa

Our first stop was in Lilongwe, the capital city of Malawi, on the Lilongwe River. The “Power Solar Home System Kick-Starter Program for Malawi” launch ceremony was held on 16 July 2019. The USAID – US Agency for International Development, in support of Power Africa, awarded $2 million (USD) in grant funding to four solar home system (SHS) companies. USAID estimates that the program will add 100,000 to 150,000 electricity connections to Malawi. The SHS companies are Solarworks!VITALITE ZambiaYellow Solar Power, and Zuwa Energy!


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SolarWorks!
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Yellow Solar Power
USAID-Power-Africa-Malawi-Event-Photographer-Pretoria-Monsoon-Photography
VITALITE Zambia
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Zuwa Energy

 


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Solar light installation in Lilongwe
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Yellow Solar Power – solar panel installation in Lilongwe

 

Kick-Starter Objective & Partners

This Kick-Starter is designed to support SHS companies to expand operations in Malawi over the next three years. The objective is to increase electricity access and grow the private sector. A wide range of partners is supporting the program. Partners include local financiers (FDH Bank – MalawiKuwa CapitalNational Bank of Malawi and Standard Bank Group), international financiers (Lion’s Head Global Partners and SunFunder) and awareness-raising institutions (SolarAid).

Power Africa brings together technical and legal experts, the private sector, and governments from around the world to work in partnership to increase the number of people with access to power. The goal? To add more than 30,000 megawatts (MW) of cleaner, more efficient electricity generation capacity and 60 million new home and business connections.

Follow the conversation: #SouthernAfricaEnergyProgram #USAIDTransforms


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Ms Chimwemwe Gloria Banda – Chief Director of Energy Malawi

Quick Malawi Travel Facts

  • The President Walmont Hotel was the first-ever 5-star hotel in Malawi
  • Lake Malawi is 350 miles long from its northern to its southern tip and is the ninth largest lake in the world and the third-largest and second deepest in Africa
  • Clear skies above Lake Malawi provide excellent conditions for star-gazing
  • Blantyre was founded by Scottish settlers in 1876 and named in honour of Blantyre in South Lanarkshire

Journalistic Travel Photographer Pretoria | Event Photographer South Africa

Monsoon Photography, commercial photographers who travel across South Africa as well as southern African countries. Journalistic photographer Pretoria & Johannesburg who travels on assignments. Contact us for a quote on commercial photography and videography.