Mr Gift Banda (BSA)

Gift Banda gets World Bank-funded Malawi Electricity Access
Project (MEAP) back on track

Employed by Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi since December 2012, Gift was redeployed in 2023 to the projects department to help steer the World Bank-funded Malawi Electricity Access Project (MEAP) back on track. This project aims to increase electricity access in Malawi by connecting more customers to the grid, with a target of connecting 180,000 customers by June 2025.

Since his redeployment in May 2023, first as the National Coordinator and now as the Deputy Project Manager, he has contributed to both technical and managerial improvements. As a result, customer connections have increased from 9,000 in five months to 66,000 in eight months, which is a remarkable achievement.

Previously, the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi Limited (ESCOM) connected an average of 35,000 customers per year. However, in 2023, for the first time under the MEAP project, 75,000 customers successfully were connected to the grid. This achievement has pleased both the World Bank, the financiers, and the Members of Parliament of Malawi.  The Beit Trust is also impressed and very proud of Gift’s professional contribution.