Harnessing the power of the sun

This report describes MAVUNOLAB, a youth-driven innovation centre in Tanzania focused on reducing post-harvest fish losses in Lake Victoria. The initiative deploys solar-powered dryers to empower female fish processors, challenging gender-based power imbalances and mitigating the impacts of climate change on food security.

• Post-harvest fish losses on the Tanzanian side of Lake Victoria are estimated at 10-22%, with losses for Dagaa specifically ranging between 14-22%. These losses are driven by a lack of technical solutions and the increasing unpredictability of weather patterns due to climate change, which can spoil fish or reduce quality during the rainy season.
• The Dagaa value chain is characterized by significant gender inequality; men typically control fishing and market sales, while women are responsible for processing. This structure places women at high financial risk because the processing and drying stages are where most waste occurs, often leading to debt when fish is spoiled by rain or contamination.
• MAVUNOLAB's Lake Victoria Fish Loss Prevention program aims to provide solar-powered dryers to 150 fish processors by 2027. As of 2024, the technology can dry up to 250 kg of fish in less than four hours, and 100 female fish processors across two communities have already benefited from the initiative.
• The initiative employs a community-centered design process, using needs assessments and interviews with fish processors to refine technology. This approach identified two primary needs for improvement: the requirement for dryers with larger capacities and the need for financing options to make the technology accessible to low-income users.
• MAVUNOLAB leverages a diverse network of partnerships to scale its impact, including local government fisheries departments for community introductions, Sokoine University of Agriculture for research and knowledge exchange, and UN agencies like the FAO and UNDP for funding and access to farmer groups.
• The introduction of solar dryers serves as a social innovation to challenge existing power structures by reducing women's dependency on men for drying racks and fish loans. By controlling the drying process and reducing waste, women can avoid debt and increase their economic agency.

APA

Global Resilience Partnership (n.d.). Harnessing the power of the sun. https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mavunolab_v1.pdf

Chicago

Global Resilience Partnership. Harnessing the power of the sun. n.d. https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mavunolab_v1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Resilience Partnership |title=Harnessing the power of the sun |url=https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mavunolab_v1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalresiliencepartnershipndharnessing, author = {{Global Resilience Partnership}}, title = {{Harnessing the power of the sun}}, institution = {Global Resilience Partnership}, url = {https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mavunolab_v1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }