Harnessing the nexus between mini-grids and community energy resilience: A case of bondo hydro mini-grid in Malawi

Abstract

Provision of electricity access has the potential for economic transformation and resilient building of rural poor. However, the linkage is elusive in many communities and instead the survival of rural electrification including mini-grids is affected. A study on Bondo Community and Bondo Mini-grid in Mulanje District was conducted to understand the dynamics of building the resilience of the community together with building the resilience of mini-grid. The study involved 17 FGDs, 16 SSKIIs, three co-design workshops, meetings, field observations and field visits to three other mini-grid establishments in Malawi. Thematic narrative analysis with use of NVIVO (2020) Student Licence was used in data analysis. The findings reveal that access to electricity on its own hardly lead to sustainable development and resilient building of rural communities. The study had shown that socio-economic and transformation of rural communities with electricity access can only be realised when electricity is promoted alongside broader goals of transformation and resilience building. Mini-grids can barely survive on their own, hence the need for dedicated external and state funding. Streamlined regulations and availability of competent personnel for mini-grids are also crucial. The country needs to institutionalise REA and the need for coherent coordination among different stakeholders. The priority of Bondo Community include support for the establishment of a factory for processing fruits and support toward electric cooking. Four separate themes came out of the study are: community resilience – at a crossroad of mini-grid, biodiversity and watershed; the nexus of energy, water and biodiversity; electricity by grid or mini- grid - not an easy path for rural communities and the need for a concessional agreement of managing MMFR.