To be truly resilient, both infrastructure and communities need to be able to withstand shocks and natural disasters. Kunja village in Malawi not only has a water pump powered by solar energy that can keep working through droughts, it also has an engaged community that understands the value of safe water, and is dedicated to protecting it.

A committee comprised of representatives from local villages raises money to pay tap attendants and pump operators, and to make basic repairs. They are currently in the process of holding a fundraiser to plant a garden in the village — fed by the pump — so they can sell produce to make money for major repairs.

Perhaps this sense of pride and ownership is not surprising. The solar pump has transformed life in this remote community. The number of children at Namera Primary School has increased from 300 to 449 as a direct result of the pump.

"We can drill much deeper for a solar-powered pump than a hand pump, which means we can reach water even during a drought when the water table drops,” UNICEF Malawi’s Chief of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Paulos Workneh comments. “It’s low maintenance and should last for at least 10 years. And solar power is cheaper, environment-friendly and more sustainable than relying on expensive diesel generators.”

Read the full article about the solar pump helping a Malawi village thrive at UNICEF.