Strategies and Goals
A food and nutrition secure Malawi wherever we work.
Malawi in Southern Africa sits along the Western shores of lake Malawi and shares boarders with Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia. Agriculture is the most important source of income for the majority of the population, however production can be disrupted by frequent droughts and floods. In 2015 and 2016 long dry spells and droughts caused by the El Niño phenomenon resulted in a major food crisis. Due to this insecurity, Malawi is ranked 90 out of 118 countries in the 2017 Global Hunger Index and due to the high instance of child undernutrition the hunger situation in the country is categorised as ‘serious’.
Sectors of Intervention
Welthungerhilfe works to strengthen food and nutrition security by focusing on sustainable agriculture and improving market linkages and value chains for small-scale farmers. Another focus is supporting civil society in Malawi to better advocate for the right to food and also a humanitarian aid component so Welthungerhilfe can respond quickly to crises. Water, sanitation and hygiene is an important cross-cutting theme and it is integrated into all project work and areas.
Agriculture and Environment
- Welthungerhilfe is working with 400 small-scale farming households in the drought prone Chikwawa district with funding from the European Union to increase their agricultural production and food and nutrition security by developing sustainable irrigation systems and promoting sustainable land-use practices.
- In the two districts of Dedza and Mangochi, Welthungerhilfe is supporting 4500 small-scale farming households increase their income and improve their nutritional status through training to diversify crops and improved storage, processing and marketing of agricultural and forest products.
Civil Society and Empowerment
- Using a participatory health and hygiene approach, Welthungerhilfe are providing training on health and nutrition in community and school health clubs with a special focus on women and young children.
- With support from the Jürgen Höller Foundation, Welthungerhilfe is improving the situation for children in primary schools in Dedza by ensuring children have access to nutritious school meals through a home grown school meals programme and a healthy learning environment through improved hygiene and nutrition education.
Humanitarian Assistance
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees estimates that there are around 36,000 refugees in Malawi and this trend is continuing as the volatile situation in countries like Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi continue. Welthungerhilfe is supporting refugees arriving in Malawi by providing vital sanitation facilities like toilet and clean water for washing and drinking at refugee centres and the Dzaleka refugee camp.
