Innovation: Africa, founded in 2008, is a non-governmental organization that brings Israeli solar, water and agricultural technologies to rural African villages, including those in Malawi.
Innovation: Africa (iA) has been working in the Lilongwe and now in the Mangochi District and has implemented more than 106 solar and water projects, providing light to schools and medical centers and crucially, pumping clean water throughout rural communities in the areas including T/A Bwananyambi, Katuli, Chilipa, Mponda, Chimwala, Ntonda, Katuli, Nankumba, Chowe and Jalasi with a high possibility of expanding its operations to other districts. The projects have positively impacted more than half a million people . At the highest level, access to clean water improves the health of the villagers, enables more students to attend school and alleviates pressure on the women who are no longer required to travel significant distances to collect water from contaminated sources and can now use their time more effectively.
In turn, economic stability begins to take place, as businesses are established, including brick-making and agricultural programs as they are able to grow vegetables and sell the surplus in local markets.
IA, has a vibrant young team of 12 working in the district. The team comprises of Hydro geologists, water engineers, civil engineers, electrical engineers, field officers and accountant who all work together to implement the projects.
IA has also partnered with a number of companies in the country to work together in carrying out the work including MBM, PBM, FISD, Orifice, EVL, IDL and Yethu Limited.
When asked how they tackle issues of accountability, transparency and corruption, the Programs Manager, Mr. Keith Chisalayi said that iA has a very strict and clean clear code of conduct which the team is required to follow. Finances are audited and all transactions are reviewed and approved.
Chisalayi also highlighted some challenges that they face as an NGO working in this country. The current challenges include the rising cost of fuel and construction materials which are affecting their project costs and annual budgets.
High taxes encountered with Malawi Revenue Authority when importing materials used in the solar projects such as state of the art lithium ion batteries have also been a very big challenge affecting the progress of the projects and scarcity of solar pumps and controllers attracts higher costs as well and delays in project implementation.
Chisalayi also pointed out that in terms of addressing the challenges they have been undergoing design optimization in order to reduce the cost of building their water towers.
CONGOMA has promised to assist IA with tax waiver support from MRA as indicated by the Executive Director of CONGOMA Mr. Ronald Mtonga. This has made IA more confident of reducing the cost of some of the most important materials used to construct the projects hence increasing the budget for more lifesaving projects in the country.
IA is implementing two categories of projects in Mangochi. The first one is community water projects which are implemented specifically in the villages and the second one is water at solar projects implemented in either schools or health centers that were powered by IA.
Looking at the projects in TA Nankumba, in the district, the systems are reticulated and comprise of a Borehole with submersible solar pump, tank tower, power room, pipe network and distribution points with tap stands.
The process that the water projects go through to reach to the intended beneficiaries include prospective water project evaluation – the village/facility is assessed based on the following Innovation: Africa’s criteria; Committee selection, pre-drilling Training, geophysical survey, drilling, pumping test, construction, committee/community construction training and post construction training.
IA is planning to implement over 200 additional solar and water projects in Mangochi and other districts in the country and will dramatically transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of Malawians for the better.
As you can see, Innovation: Africa is not just another NGO, but it is implementing its intended projects in the country using durable materials that will last a very long time and keep impacting lives of many vulnerable Malawians across the rural areas.