When a devastating storm wiped out 30% of Malawi’s electricity generation in days, the country faced a choice: Rebuild as before or reimagine its energy future. The country’s response offers a blueprint for the continent’s power transformation.

In just four years, Malawi has increased electricity access from 12% in 2020 to 25% in 2024 — a faster electrification rate than the previous four decades combined. This progress comes despite significant challenges. Three years ago, Storm Ana devastated Malawi, displacing thousands and crippling vital infrastructure, including the country's hydropower-reliant energy grid, which lost around half of its generation capacity within days. 

For a country where hydropower supplies 70% of electricity, the storm’s aftermath underscored a harsh reality: Africa's energy systems remain highly vulnerable to climate change. Malawi's ability to recover and expand access underscores the urgent need to strengthen energy resilience and accelerate the transition to reliable, clean power sources across the country and continent.  

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