Have you ever tried to solve a puzzle by fixing only one piece, while leaving the rest untouched? No matter how much effort you put into that single piece, the puzzle remains incomplete. This is how many communities experience poverty, climate change and environmental degradation. These challenges are connected and trying to solve one without addressing the others often deepens the problem.
In peri-urban communities like Njewa in Lilongwe, poverty and climate change are closely linked realities. Many households rely on firewood and charcoal for cooking, most of which comes from the Dzalanyama Forest Reserve. Dzalanyama stretches across Lilongwe and Dedza districts and has supported thousands of families for generations. It has been a source of energy and income, especially for people with limited options.
Over time, heavy dependence on wood fuel from these districts has led to severe deforestation. Trees have been cut faster than they can regenerate. As forests disappear, rainfall patterns change, soils lose fertility and water sources dry up earlier than before. Communities are left facing droughts, poor harvests and rising food insecurity. Climate change is no longer an abstract issue. It is something people experience in their daily lives.
What often gets missed in discussions about deforestation is the role of poverty. People do not destroy forests because they want to harm the environment. They do so because they need to cook, earn an income and survive. That is why solutions that focus only on environmental protection, without addressing livelihoods, rarely succeed. You cannot ask people to protect nature while ignoring their basic needs.
Recognising this reality, Tingathe Malawi, with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme, introduced the Eco Briquettes Project. The project was designed to tackle climate change, environmental conservation and household income at the same time. It is built on the understanding that sustainable solutions must work for people as well as for the planet.
From this initiative, Tikondane Group was formed after graduating from the project. The group is based in Njewa, Lilongwe, made up of eight women who chose to become part of the solution rather than remain trapped in the problem. Instead of cutting trees for charcoal, they now produce eco briquettes using organic waste materials.
These eco briquettes burn longer than traditional wood charcoal, are easy to make and offer a cleaner alternative for cooking. What was once waste has become a valuable product. This simple shift has reduced pressure on the Dzalanyama Forest while creating a reliable source of income for the group.
Tikondane Group started their business with an initial capital of only fifty thousand Kwacha. It was a small beginning, driven by commitment and teamwork. Today, the group makes over one hundred thousand kwacha in profit each month. Their briquettes are sold in places such as Mango Market and Chitipi in Lilongwe, with plans to expand to other areas. For a peri-urban community group, this progress is significant.
The Group Chairperson Chimwemwe Mumba, says the project has brought a major change in both income and mindset. “We are now earning money while protecting the environment. We no longer depend on charcoal from the forest,” she explains. Amina Saidi, a group member, adds that the project has helped her support her family while contributing to climate solutions that benefit the wider community.
Beyond making and selling briquettes, Tikondane Group is also committed to community sensitisation. They educate others on the benefits of eco briquettes and explain how everyday choices, such as fuel use, contribute to deforestation and climate change. By sharing their experience, they help communities see that protecting the environment is possible without sacrificing livelihoods.
Through the Eco Briquettes Project, Tingathe has demonstrated that poverty reduction, environmental conservation and climate action can be addressed together. By working with communities and partners, and by promoting practical, locally driven solutions, the project shows how systems thinking can lead to lasting impact. With support from the Global Environment Facility and UNDP, and leadership from community groups like Tikondane, sustainable pathways are being created that protect forests, strengthen livelihoods and contribute to a more climate-resilient Malawi.