Final Evaluation Brief: Increasing Efficiency of Hydropower Generation in Malawi

Hydroelectricity powers Malawi’s electricity grid. Just three hydropower plants – Nkula, Tedzani, and Kapichira – represent 70 percent of the country’s total electricity generation capacity. However, excessive sedimentation and aquatic weed growth in the Shire River have contributed to substantial disruptions in electricity generation by these plants, forcing shutdowns for repairs and maintenance and ultimately reducing electricity supply and reliability. This report is the second of two volumes that offer the final findings of a six-year evaluation of the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s $20 million Environmental and Natural Resources Management (ENRM) Project, part of the $347 million Malawi compact (2013-2018). The ENRM project aimed to reduce power plant disruptions and increase electricity generation efficiency by i.) purchasing mechanical equipment to more effectively remove aquatic weeds and sediment to reduce plant shutdowns and repairs, ii.) creating a grant facility to support communities in adopting sustainable land management practices, and iii.) establishing an environmental trust to scale-up grant-making throughout the Shire River Basin after the compact’s close. The findings reported are based on impact and performance evaluation methods used to comprehensively evaluate the ENRM project’s implementation, outcomes, and sustainability.