Driving Economic Inclusion Through E-Mobility in Malawi
Summary
In 2024, Moving Windmills committed to bridge gaps in electric transportation infrastructure across Malawi by enhancing its electric mobility fleet, adding 30 bikes and 48 motorcycles for use across six community hubs by 2026. This fleet enhancement creates economic opportunities and combats poverty and malnutrition, both exacerbated by the current lack of effective and sustainable local transportation infrastructure. They will also expand other assets at each hub, like solar-powered charging stations and internet. Moreover, by integrating electric farming equipment and food storage and processing facilities, like solar fridges and freezers in each hub, they will open value-add opportunities and enhance food diversity, nutrition, and health – improving medical care access for 2,000 individuals. Moving Windmills Project will also reduce malnutrition and climate-related food scarcity by improving income for 1,800 smallholder farmers while contributing to improved health, climate resilience, and economic opportunities for 36,000 people regionally in Malawi.
Approach
Moving Windmills Project commits to expand its electric mobility initiative to meet the growing needs of rural communities in Malawi. This initiative operates through a spoke-and-hub model, where community hubs and power stations (solarized maize mills) serve as public centers equipped with resources and are connected to the heart of the network—the Moving Windmills Innovation Center. These hubs collectively address agricultural productivity, transportation, local enterprise, infrastructure, community engagement, and connectivity.
The commitment focuses on enhancing transportation options at each community hub by ensuring that each site has at least eight electric motorcycles and five electric bicycles. Currently, eight motorcycles and five bicycles are shared across six hubs, so expansion will significantly increase transport efficiency for football teams, Hub Club members, community groups, and farmers. In total, 30 bicycles and 48 motorcycles will be available for use across the community hubs by the end of 2026.
This expansion aims to broaden access, providing mobility solutions to farmers and communities across Malawi. To support this, eight new charging stations will be added across the power grid. Additionally, the project will explore implementing community bicycle taxi models, designed to offer affordable and accessible transportation between hubs and surrounding areas, ensuring even the most isolated communities benefit from this work.
To boost agricultural productivity, electric farming equipment, including tractors, will be introduced to prepare fields near the hubs, enhancing crop yields. The project will also deploy five half-ton and three multi-ton vehicles to aggregate crops, improve market access, and reduce post-harvest losses. Additionally, food storage and processing facilities, including eight solar-powered fridges, freezers, and warehousing at each hub, will be established to diversify produce and improve nutrition and health outcomes in malnourished communities.
These efforts are supported by strategic partners like SAP and Pyxera Global, who provide crucial support in business strategy, awareness-building, and capacity development. Together, they are committed to overcoming logistical and economic challenges, driving transformative impact, and building a more connected and resilient future for Malawi
Action Plan
The Moving Windmills Project will implement this expansion over two years, focusing on phased development to ensure sustainable growth and impact. The project launches on November 1, 2024, and will be completed by October 31, 2026.
In Q1 (November 2024 to January 2025) , they will expand their electric vehicle fleet and conduct site assessments for new power stations. Baseline data collection will track transportation trips, goods moved, and energy output.
By Q2 (February to April 2025) , they will install the first batch of power stations and distribute the expanded vehicle fleet to community hubs. Impact will be monitored through economic activity increases, dietary improvements from better food storage, and the number of farmers accessing markets.
In the second half of 2025, they will scale training programs for local mechanics and entrepreneurs, tracking trainees, and assessing skills. They will complete installation of all eight power stations and the full distribution of vehicles. They will monitor metrics like reduced fuel costs, increased mobility, and hub usage.
In 2026, the focus will shift to integrating the new assets. Q1 will involve testing and optimizing power stations and vehicles, with user feedback and surveys to assess satisfaction. By mid-2026, they will deploy five half-ton and three multi-ton vehicles to improve market access for farmers. The final quarter will be dedicated to monitoring and evaluation, assessing overall impact, including economic gains for farmers, dietary improvements, and food security. Operations will be refined based on the collected data.
This timeline ensures that by the project’s end, Moving Windmills Project will significantly enhance their capacity to serve rural communities in Malawi. With this expansion, they aim to increase their impact from approximately 3,000 to over 10,000 farmers, problem-solvers, and changemakers per community, significantly broadening their reach and empowering more individuals to drive sustainable development.
Background
In Malawi, rural communities often face significant transportation challenges, cutting them off from essential services and limiting the movement of people, goods, and agricultural products. This lack of reliable transportation leads to missed economic opportunities and exacerbates poverty and malnutrition. Smallholder farmers, in particular, experience high post-harvest losses, with up to 25% of produce wasted due to last-mile mobility issues.
Agriculture is the backbone of Malawi’s rural economy, with over 80% of the population depending on it for their livelihoods. However, the economic realities in these communities are dire, with the average rural household income falling well below the living wage. In 2023, the estimated living wage for rural Malawi was around MWK 127,000 (USD 123) per month, while the actual average income was just MWK 90,000 (USD 87) . This income gap leaves many families struggling to meet basic needs, with over 40% of the population facing food insecurity. Rising staple food costs, up by 20% in the past year, and inflation nearing 25%, further intensify these challenges.
Moving Windmills Project has developed an initial fleet of electric vehicles to tackle these transportation barriers, but the fleet faces limitations such as battery range, charging infrastructure, and rural road suitability. Additionally, the high cost of acquiring and maintaining these vehicles, coupled with logistical barriers and previous tax burdens, has hindered scaling efforts. Even when transportation solutions are available, smallholder farmers continue to struggle due to a lack of sustainable farming equipment and food storage facilities, leading to monocropping, malnutrition, and climate-related food scarcity.
By addressing both transportation and economic barriers, Moving Windmills aims to create a comprehensive solution that not only enhances mobility and market access but also strengthens the financial resilience of rural Malawian communities.
Progress Update
Partnership Opportunities
Moving Windmills Project is seeking financial resources and media support to scale their commitment and create new opportunities for self-generated revenue. As a small team of dedicated changemakers and volunteers, they are deeply aware of the great need in Malawi and the immense potential of their initiatives. However, sustaining and expanding these efforts without additional support poses a significant challenge. Financial resources are crucial to advancing their projects, building the capacity of their team, and ensuring long-term sustainability. Simultaneously, media support will enable them to share their story, engage with a broader audience, and attract further investment. By securing these resources, they will not only be able to amplify their impact but also foster innovation, engage communities, and build a foundation for ongoing, self-sustaining growth within the communities they serve in Malawi and beyond., As part of their commitment, Moving Windmills Project offers extensive resources and services to partner organizations, supporting holistic community development. They bring best practices in sustainable development, gained from years of successful projects across Malawi. Through their implementing partnerships, they provide hands-on collaboration, including the installation of solar panels, drilling bore wells, and training in electric mobility. Their team also offers topic expertise in areas like solar energy, agricultural innovation, and educational programming. Additionally, they facilitate knowledge exchanges through residencies and fellowship programs, hosting individuals, schools, and other organizations to foster innovation. Moving Windmill’s approach respects and integrates local cultures, ensuring that their projects are sustainable and community-driven. By empowering partners to design and implement projects aligned with their shared goals, they will effectively connect ‘development silos’ and harness the strength of networks to scale impactful initiatives, driving meaningful change together.