Malawi and Switzerland authorise Article 6.2 clean cooking project targeting 1.8 million credits by 2030
By Article 6 Network
A clean cooking developer has received authorisation from both the Malawian and Swiss governments for an Article 6.2 project expected to generate nearly 1.8 million carbon credits by 2030. It is one of the largest authorised activities under the Malawi–Switzerland cooperative approach so far. It adds significant expected ITMO volume as Malawi prepares for its first transfers to Switzerland.
The developer announced on Tuesday that the project has secured the government authorisations needed under Article 6.2. It expects to generate close to 1.8 million credits by 2030, to be transferred to Switzerland for use towards its Paris Agreement target.
Malawi and Switzerland signed their bilateral climate agreement at COP27 in November 2022. The first activity authorised under it was the Malawi Dairy Biogas Program, approved earlier in 2026. That programme will distribute 10,000 biodigesters to smallholder dairy farmers, who convert manure into biogas for cooking and organic fertiliser. The KliK Foundation finances the activities and buys the resulting ITMOs, typically through fixed-price purchase agreements running to the end of 2030.
Malawi’s pipeline is expanding. It has filed its initial Article 6.2 report with the UNFCCC, setting out plans to transfer more than 1 million ITMOs. In February 2025, KliK signed a purchase agreement with Australian developer ATEC for an eCook clean cooking project in Malawi. On 8 October 2026, Malawi’s Ministry of Natural Resources and the Swiss Embassy held a launch event in Lilongwe to mark the start of implementation. The ministry said the next milestone will be the first issuance and transfer of ITMOs to Switzerland.
Signals to watch
- Malawi becomes a volume host: At nearly 1.8 million credits, this project makes Malawi a meaningful source of Swiss ITMOs, alongside Ghana, Thailand and Chile. Watch for the first issuance and transfer, which will prove Malawi’s registry, MRV and corresponding adjustment processes work end to end.
- Cookstove integrity under new scrutiny: The authorisation arrives as the PACM adopts stricter clean cooking methodologies and a reversal-risk tool, and as buyers face criticism of cookstove credits elsewhere. Methodology choice, conservative baselines and digital monitoring will decide how credible these ITMOs are and what they sell for.
- Swiss demand concentration: Malawi’s Article 6.2 flows depend entirely on Switzerland. Diversifying to other buyers such as Singapore, Japan, Sweden or Norway would reduce concentration risk for Malawian developers and the government.
- Energy access co-benefits: Clean cooking in Malawi tackles deforestation, household air pollution and fuel costs. These benefits support premium positioning and fit the argument that Article 6 can help close Africa’s energy access funding gap.
- Corresponding adjustment capacity: A least-developed country authorising several large activities must account carefully for the mitigation it exports versus what it needs for its own NDC. Malawi’s transparency reporting will be closely watched as volumes grow.
Sources:
- KliK Foundation – Malawi Dairy Biogas Programme authorised
- Malawi Ministry of Natural Resources – Article 6.2 launch event press release
- Carbon Pulse – Malawi files initial Article 6 report
- Carbon Pulse – Swiss agency signs purchase agreement for Malawi clean cooking ITMOs
- MECS – Why the Malawi, Switzerland and ATEC purchase agreement is exciting
