For decades, vaccine storage in Malawi depended on unreliable refrigeration systems running on kerosene, gas, or battery power. Solar direct-drive refrigerators changed this dynamic completely. Unlike older models requiring backup batteries or stable electrical grids, these units connect directly to solar panels and store energy.

Agriculture is the backbone of Malawi’s economy, employing around 80% of the population and contributing about one-third to the country’s gross domestic product. Despite its importance, the agricultural sector faces several critical challenges, including high post-harvest losses, limited irrigation, and poor access to reliable electricity.

For decades, vaccine storage in Malawi depended on unreliable refrigeration—fridges that ran on kerosene, gas, or battery power. Power outages and fuel shortages meant that doses could spoil before reaching the children who need them.