The goal of the National Charcoal Strategy is to provide a framework for the Government of Malawi to address the linked problems of increased deforestation and growing demand for cooking and heating fuel, with defined and prioritized near-term, medium-term and long-term actions.

The strategy is supported by the following seven strategic pillars:

1. Promote adoption of alternative cooking and heating fuels;
2. Stimulate wide-scale adoption of fuel-efficient charcoal and firewood cookstoves;
3. Significantly increase sustainable wood production, specifically for biomass energy production;
4. Effectively enforce laws and regulations to limit, and eventually stop illegal charcoal production;
5. Promote and regulate legal (licensed) charcoal production, transport and sale;
6. Enhance the livelihoods of Malawians in ways that can be sustained over time; and,
7. Ensure that the information, awareness and communications required to change behavior and increase adoption are available.