ROCKBlue's Innovative ACORN Pilot Helps Position Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) for Long-term Success
Impact at a Glance
- 435% increase in net profits
- 40% new customer growth
- 13% total revenue growth
Making significant, sustainable financial and operational improvements
Building on the success of its initial partnership with ROCKBlue, the Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) is one of only two utilities to pilot ROCKBlue’s innovative ACORN (Access to Capital, Oversight and Reporting Nexus) program. In addition to providing water to more people, improving the continuity of their water flows, and increasing revenue, through ACORN, LWB:
- Improved their shadow credit rating score to BBB+
- Increased operating profits more than 435% from 2022 to 2023
- Successfully renegotiated a 35% tariff increase
Located on the beautiful Lilongwe River, with a population of more than 1.3 million, Lilongwe is both the rapidly expanding capital and largest city in the small southeast African country of Malawi. The Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) serves more than 996,000 customers, providing most of the city’s water.
Gladwel Mphande, LWB’s Director of Finance says “We have been in partnership with ROCKBlue for a number of years now. This relationship is really bearing fruit.”
From Challenges to Triumph: LWB’s Remarkable Journey
The Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) is a success story by any standard. Since partnering with ROCKBlue in 2019, while navigating health crises, a struggling economy, and climate challenges, they’ve produced impressive, durable results, including:
- Adding 40% more new customers
- Increasing coverage of their service area by 10% for a total of 93%
- Providing a nearly continuous 24/7 water supply
- Growing revenue by more than 13%
- Building key new infrastructure
Despite LWB’s remarkable progress, they are plagued by a common problem: aging infrastructure, outdated systems, and insufficient funds to make the kind of changes that are required to meet the area’s needs in years to come.
With that in mind, LWB was one of two utilities to pilot ROCKBlue’s innovative ACORN (Access to Capital, Oversight, and Reporting Nexus) program. Through ACORN, ROCKBlue assists partner utilities with tools and knowledge to understand their financial health, co-develops plans to make them more attractive candidates for capital investment, and helps implement those plans. Ultimately, we introduce utilities to funding partners and help them negotiate favorable terms.
Empowered by Partnership: The Impact of ROCKBlue and the ACORN Program
With ROCKBlue’s guidance, LWB grew the capacity to manage their finances and:
- Improved their shadow credit rating score to BBB+
Increased operating profits more than 435% from 2022 to 2023 - Successfully renegotiated a 35% tariff increase
- LWB has demonstrated tenacity and resilience throughout this partnership with ROCKBlue. They’ve already achieved significant, lasting results, and by availing themselves fully of the resources that come with the ACORN pilot, are positioning themselves to upgrade their infrastructure and prepare for future growth, as well as major health and climate challenges.
Other success stories
WASCO
LesothoOur first partnership – established in 2016 – is a testament to a long-term approach to providing durable water solutions.
LWSC
ZambiaUsing valuable lessons learned in the developing world, we have worked with this large utility to help serve millions.
