The project was established in response to the looming energy crisis and the effect of rising fuelwood prices on urban poor. It was designed to provide at least 20% of the fuelwood consumed in the City of Blantyre and Zombia in southern Malawi and to demonstrate how to establish and manage plantation projects to provide fuelwood for urban populations. It had five components: plantation establishment; indigenous woodland management; rural extension and development; research and training; and SADC liaison. NORAD (Norwegian Agency for International Development Cooperation) provided funding support to this project at a total amount of NOK120 million (roughly about USD16 million) in three phases - Phase 1 (1987-1992) NOK50 million; Phase 2 (1992-1996) NOK50 million; Phase 3 (1997-2001) NOK 20 million.