The Malawi Electricity Access Project (MEAP), which is being run by the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) with financial support from the World Bank, is bringing a major change to the lives of many people in Malawi. Since its launch in December 2022, the project has connected thousands of homes to electricity, helping many families to start small businesses and improve their living conditions.
MEAP is funded with 71 million US dollars by the World Bank through the Malawi Government, as part of a national plan to expand access to electricity in both urban and rural areas. The goal of the project is to connect at least 180,000 new on-grid customers before the end of December 2025. The focus is on homes located within 500 metres of existing electricity infrastructure such as transformers and poles.
So far, as of July 21, 2025, the project has already connected close to 160,000 customers, representing about 88% of the total target. This shows that the project is moving at a very impressive pace and may even surpass the original goal before the end of the year.
During a recent media tour in the Northern Region, many people shared how the MEAP project has touched their lives. Chikondi Masiyano, a resident of Chimkusa in Mzimba, said she has been able to start her own hair salon and sell cold drinks from her home after getting electricity. She said this has become a source of income for her and her family.
Another beneficiary, Sharon Nyasulu, praised ESCOM for their fast service. “The speed of the connection from ESCOM was supersonic,” she said. “I followed all the procedures and now my life has completely changed.”
Even churches are benefiting from the new connections. Pastor Alinafe Kamzinga of the Amazing Love of God Pentecostal Church in Mzimba said electricity has helped him mobilise young people in his church and carry out more activities. “For over five years, we lived without electricity,” he said. “Now our church is alive with energy and our members are happy.”
In Londowala village, under Traditional Authority Mzikubola in Mzimba, Aggrey Phiri said electricity has brought joy and entertainment into his home. “We can now watch TV and movies as a family,” he said.
Residents of Sonda-Manthaki, a peri-urban area in Mzuzu, also shared similar testimonies. Etinala Kamange, a mother, said that her children now study at night and she has started a small business. “We thank ESCOM for bringing electricity here. It has changed our lives,” she said.
Many other residents noted that with electricity, they feel more secure at night and their communities are becoming more active economically. Shops now stay open longer, people can charge their phones at home, and health centres can operate with better lighting and equipment.
The MEAP project also makes it easier for low-income families, widows, and the elderly to get connected. It provides flexible deposit payment plans and uses Ready Boards, which allow households to access electricity without the need for full wiring. This makes the program inclusive and friendly to vulnerable groups.
Pilirani Phiri, ESCOM’s Chief Public Relations and Communications Officer, told journalists that the media tour was organized to give visibility to the beneficiaries and show the world how the MEAP project is creating real change.
“The impact is phenomenal,” he said. “Electricity is a key factor in economic development, and what we are seeing through MEAP is evidence that with light comes life and progress.”
The strategic plan behind MEAP is to raise Malawi’s electricity access rate. In 2020, only 12% of the country had access to on-grid electricity. MEAP and related programmes aim to push that number up to 30% by 2030, while also expanding off-grid access to another 20%. The overall goal is to achieve 50% national electricity access by 2030, with the Ministry of Energy leading the efforts.
This project, with its strong backing from the World Bank and technical implementation by ESCOM, shows that sustainable energy access is possible when government and international partners work together. For many Malawians, electricity is no longer a dream—it is now a reality lighting up homes, powering businesses, and bringing hope to communities.
