Golomoti Solar Project

In 2022, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) signed a commitment letter for a $25 million loan to support the Golomoti Solar project, a 20 MW solar photovoltaic power plant and 5MW/10MWh battery energy storage system in southeast Malawi. According to the Public Information Summary, this project is expected to positively contribute to Malawi’s electricity sector through the production and sale of solar energy to the national grid.

The Golomoti Solar project is being implemented by JCM Power Limited, the same contractor that implemented the Salima Solar Project where allegations of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEA/H) were found according to a community study conducted by Center for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR).

In May 2023, BIC partnered with CHRR to monitor the design and implementation of the project and engage in advocacy around identifying, mitigating, and responding to SEA/H and gender-based violence (GBV). CHRR also looked at the inclusion of marginalized groups, stakeholder engagement, transparency and information disclosure, and the implementation of the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) 2012 Performance Standards (PSs).

The project has led to several positive impacts on the community, including employment opportunities at the project site. Furthermore, the project contributed to increased food security through the livelihood restoration program, particularly for marginalized groups including women and older persons. The client, JCM Power, also constructed a classroom block at Chipudzi primary school, sanitary facilities at Chikololere primary school and a solar powered reticulation system at Chikololere primary school through a corporate social responsibility program.

Drawing on lessons learned from the Salima Power Project, JCM designed a Gender Based Violence and Harassment (GBV/H) Action Plan. However, while the plan targets project-affected communities for sensitization and awareness-raising activities, community members reported that they were not adequately consulted in the development of the plan itself. Inadequate engagement with the communities could contribute to the plan not being effective in addressing the specific challenges they face and lead to a lack of motivation to implement the plan. This can lead to a lack of progress in achieving the goals of the plan and can ultimately result in its failure. Furthermore, the GBV/H action plan lacks specific reference to child SEA/H risks or measures to address child SEA/H. Interviews and meetings revealed that GBV trainings for the Grievance Redress Committee (GRC) and Livelihood Restoration Committee (LRC) included information on reporting child SEA/H and a community engagement program that collaborates with a local safe schools program. Such activities should be detailed in the GBV/H Action Plan so that communities have access to information on what activities and prevention measures they can expect to take place.

Findings revealed that the code of conduct (CoC) defines GBV/H as a collective term that includes GBV, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and workplace violence, but it does not further define these terms or outline disciplinary measures for perpetrators. Additionally, the CoC does not define child SEA/H, nor does it prohibit any sexual activity with children. However, the CoC is signed by employees, project staff, and contractors, and translated in the local language.

Field findings revealed that low wages and long working hours without adequate resting time prompted workers to complain to JCM. As one community member put it, “We were required to work from 6am to 6pm, without enough time to rest and if you decided to rest during working hours, we were told that it is not acceptable.” The women also highlighted that there was one common toilet for both female and male workers. Additionally, there wasn’t a convenient environment for nursing mothers and women with small children. In response to these complaints, JCM increased the number of mobile toilets on the project site and adjusted working hours from 6am – 6pm to 7am – 5pm including breaks at 10 am and noon. JCM also increased wages from $36 USD to $60 USD per month and gave increased flexibility for nursing mothers to attend to their children.

The project has a grievance redress framework to provide stakeholders with a clear process through which to raise issues, concerns or complaints and to have these matters dealt with in a fair and equitable manner. However, community members on the village Grievance Redress Committee (GRC) reported a lack of capacity and resources to properly receive SEA/H and GBV complaints, with only one SEA/H and GBV training having taken place for the members. According to JCM Power, the village GRC's role is not to handle SEA/H or GBV cases themselves, but to instead to receive and refer such complaints to the police; Golomoti Action AIDS Support Organization (GASSO), a civil society organization supporting the project; or a social welfare officer associated with the referral pathway and the community-based case management system, an existing structure which was set up with the support of the Ministry of Gender. However, village GRC members requested quarterly training to increase their capacity on how to receive and pass on such sensitive cases in a victim-centered manner, per the referral pathway.

Findings indicated that complaints handled by the village GRC are mainly family disputes resulting from the distribution of funds received as compensation for family land. However, 70% of the 123 community members interviewed mentioned that they would not lodge land acquisition complaints to the village GRC because they felt that their grievances would not be resolved. This was because the government officials from the Ministry of Lands told them that they cannot reverse resolutions made by the Malawi Government to procure land. According to JCM, land acquisition complaints must be directed to the Ministry of Lands, which oversees valuation and acquisition of land.

The 2021 Stakeholder Engagement Plan lists CHRR, International Accountability Project (IAP), and Bothends as key stakeholders, but none of these organizations had been directly engaged on the project. Instead, these organizations had received updates on the Golomoti Solar Project during follow-up meetings on the Salima Power Project. Additionally, 85% of the interviewed community members shared that they were not adequately consulted on the land acquisition process, and they feel that they were forced to give up their land. About 30% of elderly community members shared that they did not understand the land acquisition process. According to the community members, government officials stated that the land acquisition process would happen regardless of the wishes of community members.

Information about the project is not available on either the JCM or DFC websites. Project documents such as the workers CoC, GBV action plan, vulnerability assessment reports, revised stakeholder engagement plan, livelihood restoration plan, and labor influx management plan are not available online. The GRC and LRC members also mentioned that JCM does not provide a clear timeline of project activities, and this affects the timely disclosure of information to communities. Community members however, shared that they received project information during community meetings organized by JCM Power.

Last Updated

January 25, 2024

Location

Malawi

Institution

World Bank Group

Campaigns

Child Rights

Total Cost

$25 million USD

Funding

US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)

MDB Financing Status

Active