Title Page

(Group Photo)

Graduation
INNO- PAD
Page -2 (1 photo on this page)

OUR MISSION
The mission of the Centre for Innovation and Industrial Research (CIIR) is to accelerate
transformative industrialisation in Malawi through human-centred and demand-driven
industrial research, innovation, technology development and commercialisation.

OUR VISION
…toTo become a modern and dynamic academy of excellence recognised for Commented [JT1]: Optional to maintain the dots or delete
them and capitalize the t
championing Science, Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship for transformative
Commented [JT2R1]: Vice versa, vision starts before the
industrialisation in Malawi.’ mission

GOAL
The strategic goal for the Centre is to advance science, technology and innovation (STI

)through quality research, capacity development, application and commercialisation of

outputs

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES (SOs)

SO - 1: To build the capacity of Malawians to create, apply and scale innovations that
use science and technology STI to address economic challenges
SO- 2: To champion transformative agro-industrial research, business and skills
development in food and nutrition engineering
SO- 3: To accelerate translation of scientific and innovative ideas into new products,
services and technologies in areas of focus
SO- 4: To drive and support commercialisation of technologies and services for
transformative industrialisation.

FOUNDING EVOLUTION OF THE CENTRE

The CIIR is a third transition of a Government-led vision to promote research,
technology development economic growth. In xxxx 1900, the Malawi Industrial Commented [JT3]: Something missing
Research and Technology Development Centre (MIRTDC)was established under the
Trust Deed, 1991 and became operational in 1993 Ministry of…. through Parliament
Act xxx. Following the merger between the Malawi University of Science and
Technology and MIRTDC, the Centre was renamed The MRTDC was moved to MUST
in ….and renamed Industrial Research Centre (IRC). The oThe Office of the Vice
Chancellor on behalf of Senate approved the renaming of the Industrial Research Commented [JT4]: Insert a comma
Centres (IRC) in July 2019 to become the Centre for Innovation and Industrial Research Commented [JT5]: Insert a comma

(CIIR) in line with its Vision, Mission, Malawi Growth and Development Strategy Commented [JT6]: Insert comma,
III(MGDSIII 2017-2023III, African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the 2015 United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Currently, CIIR It is housed under the
Directorate of Research, Postgraduate Studies and Outreach.

The Centre for Innovation and Industrial Research is moulded on the understanding
that advancing development for the individual, the community and the nation requires
the systematic investment in innovation and innovativeness from the vast resources
bank within MUST and beyond MUST’s borders. As such, the CIIR takes a keen interest
in seeking, developing and advancing innovative ideas through relevant industrial
research.

CONTACT
Centre for Innovation and Industrial Research
Malawi University of Science and Technology
PO Box 5196, Limbe, Malawi
Phone: 265 1 478 000
Email: ciir@must.ac.mw
Facebook,
Twitter,
Website

Page-3 Table of Contents

Vice Chancellor Remarks

Remarks from head of the Centre
Flagship Programmes
Faculty Innovations
Graduate Innovation
Partnerships
Page-4

VICE CHANCELLORS REMARKS

The Centre for Innovation and Industrial Centre (CIIR) represents a major shift in the
way our University will address science, technology, innovation, research, teaching and
entrepreneurship. Since its inception a few years ago, the University has not had a
deliberate framework that allowed a deliberate centre of excellence to champion Commented [JT7]: Repeated word
innovation management.

As a University, through our Schools, Centres, institutes, and the students’ community,
we have been generating innovative ideas that, with proper frameworks, could be a
source of economic transformation whilst providing solutions to many various
challenges facing Malawithat the country is facing. However, we had nothave not
properly harnessed these innovations to contribute to several pillars in our MUST
Sstrategic Pplan. The CIIR presents one of the platforms that we will use to nurture and
manage innovations. My office has already established the Innovation Award to
provide the required incentives for both fFaculty and students innovators. I am pleased
that Smile Insurance and Mahogany Insurance Brokers have already approved financial
support to the Award.

I call on all MUST family members and our development partners to reignite their
ambitions and actions through the Centre as we collectively deal with the increasing
youth unemployment, environmental degradation, food insecurity, and extreme
weather events thereby affecting the attainment of both the Malawi Growth and
Development Strategy (MGDS III) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a
university, we are committed to forge partnerships that will alleviate the sufferings of
many Malawians, especially those in rural areas. The Centre is a hub to allow us think
differently and support the aspiration of Malawi leadership to a better country.
The MUST CIIR will contribute to realisation of our Vision: ‘A world class centre of
science and technology education, research and entrepreneurship’ and it is with this
vision that I endorse the Centre as an instrument of change.

It is very clear that CIIRthat CIIR is also contributing to all pillars in our strategic plan
(2017-2022) including Pillar 1: Quality Education; Pillar 2: Research and Valorisation;
Pillar 3: Enabling Environment, and Pillar 4: External Engagement.

The CIIR recognizes that building human capacity depends on an enabling environment
that propels science, technology and innovation. Sustaining such growth requires
effective institutional response systems through coordinated investments in human
capital. The CIIR lays the foundation for our members of staff, students and our partners
to advance the university’s vision through the innovation that will be the core pathway
for mentorship in the programme.

I champion and stand behind this Centre, and expect to witness real change. The Centre
is also contributing to my own vision of establishing the Industrial Park which we have
already started initiatives with support from the Government of Malawi

I therefore call on the faculty, students, administrators and our esteemed partners to
put in all the required attention by acting to work together to achieve the vision of
MUST and that of Malawi through the CIIR.

May God Bless Malawi and its People.

Prof Address Malata, PhD

REMARKS FROM DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRE

Commented [JT8]: You may or may not insert a photo

where you wore a suit

Welcome to the Centre for Innovation and industrial Research. The First MUST
Graduation Day, is the best gift for us as we would like to share and conceptualise the
partnership model into the innovation world. Our Centre believes that innovations are
born and innovation generations are sustained through transformative partnership. We
encourage you to visit our pavilion under the Malawi Institute for Technology. We are
ready to host you in the MUST Idea Bank (MUST I-Bank) were you are welcome to
save your first innovation idea and get a Certificate.

Our Centre has been designed to act as service centre for all stakeholders in order to
address the pressing needs facing our society. In the centre, we believe that the idea is
the first step to changing our world and creating the environment we want. As such,
this Graduation Launch Pad is a direct invitation to you and other interested partners
to join the Innovation Team here at MUST.

The Centre has been reorganised to make sure that no one is seating in the comfort
zone, we will be challenging innovators to think outside the box, process information
into knowledge so that Malawi become a knowledgeable nation that will use
innovation for sustainable development. Whilst studies have shown that current
programmes are training students whose jobs will not be available in future, we at the
Centre we will work with MUST Schools to make sure that wethat we produce
graduates and support partners to create jobs for the future job market.

We are very existed that local partners (See Partner dash Board) have already started
working with us and we have had strategic meetings with more innovative industries.
We are pleased and delighted that key Ministries including Ministry of Agriculture,
Irrigation and Water Development, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism have
already accepted our new programming and we will make ensure that the Centre is a
key player in achieved ministerial strategic goals as well as the Malawi Growth and
Development Strategy III. The Centre has also designed a Community Innovation
Support programme which is directly linked to Economic Zones championed by the
National Planning Commission. Through the Junior Talent and Innovation Programme
we would like to reach out to secondary schools’ innovators and start nurturing and
managing their innovations for commercialisation.

I am delighted to report that we have already received funding from USAID, The
Foundation for Smoke Free and UNICEF to support our flagship programme including
the Africa Drone and Data Academy, MUST Innovation Scholar Programme and the
MUST Capacity Building Programme under the Centre for Agriculture Transformation.

Finally, on behalf of the MUST Innovation team, let me take this opportunity to
acknowledge the support and encouragement we are getting from the Office of the
Vice Chancellor, University Registrar, Executive Management, Faculty and students.

David D Mkwambisi, PhD

Director of Centre for Innovation and Industrial Research
Page-5

FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES

MUST INNOVATION PROGRAMME

The MUST Innovation pProgramme is an initiative that seeks to enhance the innovative
ecosystem in MUST as well as influence innovation beyond MUST, with a potential Commented [JT9]: Insert comma
impact on the national development goals. Under the programme, the CIIR, will
identify, nurture and develop innovations from MUST’s personnel (Faculty and
students), as well as from communities, secondary schools, the industry and any other
potential innovations within the country. The programme will be driven by the MUST
Innovation Academy where by short and tailored-made training programmes will be
delivered to support innovation management processes. The programme has also
established the Vice Chancellor (VC) Innovation Award as a tool to incentivise
innovators.

The programme has four key components:

Component I: University Technology and Innovation Garage

The MUST Innovation Garage is the service centre that will drive commercialisation of
innovations. It provides the necessary space for conceptualisation and development of
innovations for various applications. The ideation space will be used to select and refine
innovations or innovative ideas, the mentorship space will be used to develop
innovation ideas through mentorship from a set of identified mentors relevant to the
innovation and the partnership and commercialization space will be used to link
innovations to relevant markets. The output for this last element will be a prototype.
In addition to this, the garage will also support incubation and spin off companies
through the University’s structures.

Component II: Community Innovation Support Programme

The Community Innovation System Support (CISS) has been designed to, primarily
,focus on supporting innovation and innovativeness among community members,
especially those in the rural areas. This will be done by supporting and building their
capacity in developing the said innovations and helping them develop and embrace a
culture of innovativeness. The programme will facilitate the mapping of community
innovations, establishment of innovation hubs and creating partnerships with District
Councils to create District Innovation Boards and facilitating capacity building
programmes.

Component III: Junior Talent and Innovation Programme

This component will be jointly implemented by National Commission for Science and
Technology (NCST), Kamuzu Academy in collaboration with Press Trust and Ministry
of Education Science and Technology (MoEST). The aim is to primarily identify
innovations among the youth in Malawi, and develop these innovations and the skills
of the youth responsible for them/. A secondary school science and innovation
identification and management framework will be used to identify the innovations and
link them to the MUST Garage

Component IV: Innovative Growth Industries

The Innovative Growth Industries has been designed to develop and operationalize
industrial innovation ecosystem in Malawi. The broad objective of the programme is
to contribute to increased competitiveness and innovative capacity of the industrial
sector in the country. Thus, by promoting all forms of innovation, the proposed
programme will support and strengthen innovative ability and competitiveness of the
industry community as a whole. The programme also intends to encourage companies
to invest in research and development (R&D) that can enhance competitiveness,
increasing growth opportunities and promote sustainable value creation. The
programme will create and promote a culture of innovation in applied R&D and
engineering and develop an innovation framework and mechanism for idea generation.
It will further be strengthening the joint monitoring, measuring and sustain innovations
for economic growth.

AFRICA DRONE AND DATA ACADEMY

The African Drone and Data Academy is being led by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
University (Virginia Tech) based in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA and being funded UNICEF
to provide education programmes that advance expertise in drone technology and
entrepreneurship.

Photo: Drone

The ADDA which will initially start with short training courses that will equip Malawian
and international students with the necessary skills to command the usage of drones for
different applications including assessing agricultural productivity and establishing
malaria hotspots. In addition to this, the initiative aims to work with the university that
trains future drone operators for various development needs across the country. In
phase one, the ADDA will aim to develop a masters’ degree in drone innovation,
operations and information science (MDIOIS).

MUST CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMME

The Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) is part of a consortium with
Land O’Lakes Venture37 (formerly Land O’Lakes International Development), the
University of Minnesota and Stellenbosch University to establish the Centre for
Agricultural Transformation (the CAT) programme to help small scale farmers diversify
their livelihoods. Funding for the CAT is from the non-profit Foundation for a Smoke
Free World. MUST employees will be supported to further their studies(MSc and PhD)..
The project will support the establishment of Food Science and Technology and
Renewable Energy Launch Labs. To drive its strategic pillars, the programme will also
support the interventions in the Innovationthe Innovation Garage to advance science,
technology and innovation through quality research, capacity development,
application and commercialisation of outputs especially in the agriculture sector.

Page-6 & 7

FACULTY INNOVATION
University Technology and Innovation Garage (UTIG)
By Robert Mkandawire
Senior Research Fellow, CIIR

Under the umbrella of the MUST Innovation Programme, Robert has conceptualized
the University Technology and Innovation Garage (UTIG) that will function as a service
center to support MUST innovators and partners. The immediate objectives will be to
focus on developing capacity to support innovators at their earlier stages of innovation
development. The key components of the Garage are: Ideation Space, Coaching and
mentorship, ..
Re-inventing Malawian Folktales through Animated Stories on Climate Change
By Atikonda Mtenje-Mkochi, PhD
Head of Department, Language and Communication, MUST

The project is trying to address issues on climate change through folktales to address
community challenges while at the same time sustaining and reviving story telling
culture among Malawians. This will be through cartoons, comics and possibly video
games. The innovation will create a folk tale information management system to
collect information from literature, elders and story collectors. This information will be
processed through the Folktale-Climate Change Studio (FCCS) to weave a climate
change lesson into an appropriate Malawian folktale. The FCCS will comprise of climate
change experts, literature and performance scholars, education experts and animators.
It is expected that the innovation will contribute to environment edutainment.

Share the Care Model

By Mandayachepa Nyando, PhD
Head of Department XXXX

The Sshare the care model innovation aims is to develop a model that shall will be used Commented [JT10]: Use will if definite or maintain shall if
unsure
to help address challenges that women caregivers of children living with HIV and AIDS
and any child living with a chronic illness other than HIV and AIDS in a rural setting.
The simple principle for this project is to share the care so that women caregivers learn
lessons from each other on how to improve the care of their wards. Concepts to be
considered are but not limited to: 1). setting the boundary with sub-concepts such as
terrain, culture, gender, financial status, 2). Care with sub-concepts such as
informational care and physical care, 3). Income generating activities with sub-concepts
such as Agriculture, Banking, and business and 4). Professional support with sub-
concepts based on the profession such as health, education, justice, agriculture and trade
and industry.

E-commerce Platform for Micro, Small and Medium sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in
Malawi
BY Charles Fodya, PhD
Head of Department XXXXInformation, Communication, Technology Department

The scholar has developed an E-e commerce platform that will be used to promote
products and services for the SMEs. The framework will facilitate mapping and profile
products and services offered by the MSMEs. Then it will conceptualize the product
delivery systems building on existing structures such as Post Offices. It will then construct
payment system that will be linked to Malawi Revenue System, existing mobile
payments and other mechanisms. In addition, the framework will put in place
mechanism to ensure quality of the products and linkage to the buyers.
University-Industry Engagement Model (UIE-Model)
By Jennifer Manda Chimwanza, MSc
Position: Lecturer in Thermodynamics

The proposed innovation aims to operationalize Work Integrated Learning Policy and
expand its impact on MUST by creating a program where faculty members learn and
interface with industry partners through Faculty-Industry Placements (FIPs). The project
will create the FIP model where faculty are embedded within key industry players so
that they can better understand the skills/education industry requires in their
employees. It will further allow the faculty to understand the industry landscape and
be able to identify changes that can be included in teaching and learning for WIL
improvement.

Through the FIP model, faculty will be placed with an industry partner that uses the
topics which the faculty members facilitate. Faculty will be expected to produce an FIP
report (FIPR) at the end of their FIP experience that recommends changes to the
curriculum based on their attachment experience. FIP reports will identify gaps between
industry needs and existing coursework to develop new and more relevant
curriculum. The university will use the FIPRs as inputs into their university wide
curriculum review process.

Adaptive education health, safety and environment assessment Model 

By Lucy Msungeni
Position:  Lecturer in Safety, Health and Environment
This innovation will develop the Adaptive education health, safety and
environment assessment Model that will educate, school managers,, health and safety
policy makers to better understand the local conditions at any school. The model will
be adaptative to any location and incorporate the local environmental, social and
economic conditions. It will encourage the development of locally relevant safety
measures over regional or national standards that tend to be beyond the physical or
financial reach of poor schools.

HIV/AIDS Knowledge Transfer Model

By Paul Makocho, PhD
Position: Lecturer in Biological Sciences

This project is developing an App with properly validated information on HIV/AIDS

for young people aged between 15 and 24 years. The conceptual innovation will be
developed to facilitate several phases in collecting information including finding out the
current knowledge transfer models, in schools, how the teachers are getting the
knowledge to students on HIV/AIDS and find a way of enhancing this knowledge. It
will allow clear mapping of sources of HIV/AIDS information and through the
Information Synthesis Hub (ISH) the innovation will allow information matching,
prioritization and transferred to the APP. The framework will also provide a window
for effective coordination and partnerships among the stakeholders.
Liver Disorder Education and Awareness App
By Priya Samson, PhD
Position: Lecturer in Biological Sciences

A Liver Disorder Education and Awareness framework will be developed first to

conceptualize steps that will involve gathering of information. This information will be
process through the Mix and Match Studio to validate and prioritize the information.
Then an awareness framework will be developed for different groups of people
including medical teams. This will be linked to an Education Space where innovative
education programmes will be developed. The framework will also involve a Help line
Space to provide services for those affected. Then an APP shall be developed to have
all the services and support whilst updating information (Edutainment). The framework
will enhance access to information on liver disorders and symptoms then facilitate the
provision of remedial or preventative solutions by linking potential patients to
appropriate physicians

Crowd Funding Platform for University Entrepreneurs in Malawi

By Ms MacLean Mbepula
Position:
Name of Organisation:

Afrineur will develop a special crowdfunding site for MUST. Via this site, the public in
Malawi and beyond will be able to provide financial support for MUST
Innovations. As MUST creates its University Technology and Innovation Garage and
has either faculty or student created innovations that are ready
for commercialization, Afrineur will become the “window” that will facilitate the
promotion of the innovations and serve as the financial processing platform.

Secondary School Students Performance Monitoring System (3SPM)

By Lucia Mhango
Telecoms Malawi Limited
Position:

The Secondary School Students Performance Monitoring System will be a form of a

database monitoring system that allows for stakeholder inclusion to access academic
records and monitoring overall school performance. Using Design Thinking and Systems
Thinking a computer-based system will be developed to collect data and information
that forms school performance. This will include qualification of teachers, infrastructure,
management systems/models, school grades. And student general performance in other
fields such as sport or community support. Initial input of data and information will be
by the teachers and school management. MUST can benefit by enriching the secondary
school teaching process through the data provided by the project.

Plastic Waste Collection Service Model

Ms Jane Ziba
Name of Organisation
Position:
This innovation is to use Design Thinking and Systems Thinking to develop a business
plan for a Plastic Waste Service Centre that will act as a plastic waste broker for the
many waste recycling businesses in Lilongwe. The work will start with “mapping”
waste collection entrepreneurs (collectors, recyclers and public services) and use this
map to develop a list of stakeholders. The model will allow further mapping of the
products and users of plastic waste and develop a marketing model linking waster
collectors to buyers whilst promoting other innovative usage of plastic waste. Then, the
scholar will use Design Thinking to develop the prototype for the plastic waste service
centre. Waste management is of interest to MUST and will assist in advising the plastic
waste service centre.

Page 8&9

GRADUATE INNOVATIONS
Zero plastic wastes through diesel production Plastic Diesel
By Catherine T. Chaima
BSc

The overall objective of this innovation is to produce diesel from waste plastic papers
through reverse engineering mechanism. The proposed innovation will involve
designing a simple and energy efficient reactor that will contain waste plastics with the
aid of a locally made catalyst (loam soil) to optimize diesel production from waste
plastics.

Eco-friendly and economical fluid whiteboard duster

By Talengi Kasambara & Francis Chimoto
BSc

The overall objective is to modify the existing duster to remove stains on white boards
and conditioning the surface of the board for improved teaching and learning. The
duster will have a closed tank that contains a cleaning fluid. The main component will
be the diaphragm that will have a series of connected pipes to facilitate flow of fluid
within the duster. A cell soft foam with waffle-like surface will be fabricated from a
soft material. The duster will have press button to move fluid from the tank to the
surface layer with a a nobble for refilling fluid into the tank.

PreserveX
By Dominic Sandram
BSc
The innovation aims to preserve agricultural commodities by keeping them fresh for
longer. It exploits the concept of controlled microenvironments and solar energy to
achieve preservation. An airtight collapsible tent will be used as a containment for
commodities and an evaporator will be used to produce optimum humidity levels.
Other components include a portable solar panel and baskets.

Ceramic water filter

By Ethel Pondelani
BSc

A filter made from the locally found clay soil will be designed to allow water molecules
to pass through the filter. To further purify the water especially removing/killing
bacteria, the innovation will use innovative approaches to soften the water, thereby
removing chemicals and preventing the growth of algae. Activated carbon, ion
exchange raisin and colloidal silver will be incorporated into the filter. This filter will
convert the unsafe water that people in rural areas normally drink to portable water
and help prevent waterborne diseases associated with drinking contaminated and
untreated water.

Automated oxygen concentration sensor

By Kingsley Gwesere
BSc
This innovation aims to develop automated oxygen concentrator sensor based on
ultrasound principle. Ultrasonic pulse will detect oxygen concentration produced by
the medical device. The sensor is to be highly excited with voltage so that it efficiently
measures oxygen concentration. When the detected oxygen level for a certain period
is below required percentage, relay switch will cut power supply.

My flour the game changer

By Blessings Masina
BSc

This innovation will develop a process to facilitate short time production of white flour
with an option of fortification at low cost. This will be achieved by developing small-
scale model for processing vessel with boiler producing saturated steam and dryer with
higher oven temperature. Locally available fortificants comprising of available food
sources will be incorporated. This mixer will be introduced to the process in the hammer
mill as a means of fortification. The process innovation of white flour production will
eliminate soaking and sun-drying of the maize grits and flour respectively.

ULTRA POWER SUPPLY (UPS)

By Matilda Mamba, Peter Ngwira & Macolando Nkhata
BSc

This innovation will incorporate the use of Parabolic Solar Concentrator and
environmentally friendly biogas-technology in Malawi into the production of electricity
to boost up energy generation capacity. The Parabolic Solar Concentrator will
concentrate the sun’s radiation on the receiver of thermal heat. It will accumulate
maximum solar radiation using the sun tracking system made up of automatic Jacks.

Foetal Heart rate Monitoring Device, The foetal life Saver

By Bernadette Mwasikakata & Elmiton Master Mussa

The innovation aims at reducing fetal and neonatal deaths by detecting and recording
fetal heart beat sounds during pregnancy, labour and delivery by using piezoelectric
microphone. The detected sounds will be directed to the operational amplifier. The
pre-amplified signals will be filtered using a low pass filter then later be processed by a
software installed on arduino to calculate the fetal heart rate. This innovation will save
lives of many fetus and Neonates in Malawi and other developing countries.

Flute hearing aid

By Omega Mitinda
BSc
This innovation aims at providing temporary treatment to hearing loss problem by
using hearing aids. It is modelled on the concept of sound amplification to increase
sound gain. It will be designed in such a way that sound enters the device through
mouth piece, it is amplified and then filtered. The amplified sound pass into the ear
through the ear piece. A potentiometer attached to the device will be used to adjust
sound volume. A solar charger consisting of solar panel and control module will be
used to recharge the button cell batteries.

Patient Monitoring and diagnostics (INFANTS LIFE ENGINE)

By Tadala Mtimuni
BSc

This innovation consists of a smart monitoring machine with minimum complexity for
easy end user usage. In principle, vital signs and body conditions will be recorded using
instruments on the device. Data stored on the device will be accessed in real time using
Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection to the design. Data will be used for diagnosis and early
identification of a respiratory problem. It will also be used as a medicating device for
children in need of oxygen supplement. Malawi and other countries in sub-Saharan
Africa will be able to save the lives of infants

WHAT THE CIIR OFFERS TO THE WIDER COMMUNITY

 The CIIRA is a hub for opportunities for both innovators and those that wish to
facilitate the advancement and promotion of innovations.
 The CIIR Sserves as an ideal space for advancing intellectual knowledge of
innovation while also advancing innovativeness.
 The CIIR is Pplaced as a key hub to assist in ensuring the development of
innovation in line with various innovative goals.
 The CIIR is Oopen to the public for productive working partnerships that are
aimed at advancing innovation and innovativeness in Malawi.

INNOVATION TEAM
David Mkwambisi
David is the Director of the Centre and holds PhD and MSc in Environment and
Development from Universities of Leeds and East Anglia in UK respectively. He is an
Associate Professor of Environment and Development and an active researcher in the
development discourse working with national and international organisations including
World Bank, Africa development Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, Government of Malawi,
COMESA, NEPAD, GIZ, USAID, DFID, UNFPA, IDRC and several internationally
recognised centres of excellence and Higher Education Institutions.

Mr Robert Mkandawire
Ms Tamara Nyirenda
Ms Omega Mitinda
Kingsley Robert Kalonda
Dr John Taulo
John is a Lecturer in Energy Scienes and holds PhD and MSc in Mechanical Engineering
from Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch. Dr Taulo has initiated and
implemented a number of development projects in energy in rural communities in
Malawi. He has been the Principal Investigator in a number of research projects in
biomass, bioenergy and solar photovoltaic community projects. In addition, Dr Taulo
is experienced in capacity building at all levels of society spanning from his work and
involvement in civil society organisations working with both rural and peri urban
communities. At MUST, Dr Taulo has been responsible for providing leadership,
direction and control of activities of the research and development section through
supervision of personnel and projects. He has also been responsible for identifying
potential areas of collaboration, working with Research Fellows and senior colleagues
across departments and faculties to manage the process of bringing together for
collaborative grant opportunities. As a lecturer, the main purpose of his job is to teach,
carry out research, consultancy and outreach activities, publish and provide
guidance/mentorship to junior faculty and students. Dr Taulo lectures solar thermal
energy, hydropower, wind energy, bioenergy and engineering design. He also
supervises undergraduate and postgraduate student’s research projects, both at
University of Malawi and Malawi University of Science and Technology. Dr Taulo is
reviewer for several international peer-reviewed journals.