Renewable energy improving lives of Mozambique’s displaced communities

Mototaxis ferrying people and goods try their way through a dusty road, pitted with potholes, in central Mozambique. Alongside, bicycles pulled by thin muscled men creak under the weight of coal, firewood, and heavy logs of "chanati" wood, harvested for furniture. The journey for those trudging this 21-kilometer rugged route on foot, under the hot sun, can take up to two days.

In parallel a railroad strings out towards the resettlement site of Savane. At its entrance stands a tall mango tree watching over the makeshift playground below. Here, children create toys from the litter of daily life: kites built from worn plastic, cars crafted from discarded soda cans, and footballs made from condoms and plastic bags.

Nestled in the Dondo district, Savane shelters 435 internally displaced persons (IDPs) spread across 146 households. Established in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai's devastation in 2019, it offers those uprooted from Beira's suburban neighborhoods, 60 kilometers away, a place to start over.

While the community gradually finds its footing, challenges persist. Before relocating to the resettlement site, people depended on fishing and trade. Now, far from the ocean, most of them have shifted to small-scale trading and agriculture. Limited access to water and effects of climate change hampers agricultural endeavors and the absence of electricity from the national grid plunges residents into darkness, depriving them not only of light but of vital information and connectivity. "I just want to understand what's happening out there in the world. But without electricity, it's like I'm in the dark, not just at home, but about everything else too", expresses a concerned community member who struggles to stay informed in these circumstances.

Savane is just one of many resettlement sites in the area. Ndedja and Muda Nunes, which combined host 4,394 IDPs, face the same challenge:  limited access to alternative energy sources. This situation limits local businesses and agricultural activities, hindering the economic development crucial for lifting affected populations out of poverty.

Maria Filipe Franscisco, who owns a shop in the community’s market in Ndedja resettlement site, another 85 kilometers away from Beira, experienced difficulties in maintaining her business profitable. In Mozambique’s tropical climate, offering cold refreshments is essential to keep costumers coming. Being away from the electrical grid, Maria improvised a solution: buying ice to maintain her products somewhat cold in her unplugged refrigerator. The solution, however, often fell short of addressing the problem and proved to be financially unsustainable. “I used to spend 40 meticais a day to buy ice to put into the refrigerator to help keep the drinks cold plus the time going to and from the ice store”, she recounts.

Zito Araújo was just a teenager when he resettled with his family in Muda Nunes due to the devastating consequences of a cyclone, which are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change.. Years later now, he has his own family to provide for. As an entrepreneur by heart, he has established an agricultural endeavor planting and selling vegetables in his community. But the diesel-ran water pump he used to water his plantation was not economically viable. “It was very expensive. After selling all the produce, doing the math you’d realize that most of that would go to cover the price of the gasoline needed run the water pump”, he explains.

To make matters more complicated, in areas affected by displacement, the lack of access to energy exacerbates hardships and exposes vulnerable populations to increased risks, particularly women who traverse treacherous terrain in search of firewood. The dimly lit environs breed unease, hindering movement and impeding access to essential services, perpetuating a cycle of vulnerability and insecurity.

HARNESSING MARKET DYNAMICS FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS

To support communities in tackling those issues, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and partners are spearheading a pioneering initiative to foster a sustainable energy market in Mozambique's displacement settings. Through meticulous data collection and collaborative design, the project introduces solutions tailored to the community's needs in five resettlement sites in Sofala Province, from efficient cookstoves to solar-powered illumination, refrigerators freezers and irrigation pumps.

The impact is tangible. Isabel Felix, a resident of Ndedja resettlement site, recounts how the new stove has transformed her daily routine. "Before, we used to spend 20 meticais (about 0,30 USD) every day on firewood. But now, with this new stove we've built using materials from around here, like mud, the wood we get for 10 meticais lasts us a good 3 days," she explains. "And the lamp too! The kids can play and study even when the full moon is not there to give us some light at night" she adds.

The solar lights are bringing unexpected advantages as well. Gracinda, a community member using the improved stoves and solar panels is particularly excited for being able to relive some of her affective memories. "Today, I made fried ’cupim’ (termite) for the first time, a dish from my land. We used the lamp that came with the solar panel to attract the “bichinhos” (small animals in Portuguese) last night, so now we've got lunch! They're drawn to the light."

Maria Filipe Franscisco has also seen a positive change in her situation, now able to save more from her earnings. “The [solar] freezer is making things much easier. Now I can sell cold drinks and other chilled products. The business is currently doing very well” she shares while expressing her aspirations to expend her commerce to sell frozen fish and chicken.

Zito Araújo had a similar experience and results, noting immediate benefits from the new solar-powered irrigation pump at a fraction of the previous costs. “Since I started using it a month ago, I can see that it’s really good. No hustle, you just turn it on and with the power of the sun it starts pumping the water from the lake to water my plantation. This is a better option than the fuel-ran pump I used to use.”

A driven entrepreneur, Zito now wants to grow his business by investing in a solar refrigerator aiming to establish a family-led enterprise that will leave a legacy for his next generations. “I’m thinking for my children to go to school and then when they finish studying, they will help me. So, in the future, when I’m not around anymore, they’ll give continuity to what I’m building now.”

This IOM initiative on Environmental Sustainability is made possible through the generous support Innovation Norway, and NORCAP, in partnership with C-Quest Capital and a consortium that includes GreenLight Africa, Mercy Corps, and Epsilon Energia Solar.

Mozambique stands at the frontline of climate change, confronting the specter of intensified natural hazards and entrenched poverty. Yet, through innovation and collaboration, it charts a course toward better and more sustainable future.