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Tawonga, 10, lives in the Rumphi district of Malawi. She is the youngest of six children and was born with one weaker leg, so she walks with the aid of crutches. Photo Pilirani Chimombo

Malawi

With your help, in Malawi we support communities to access clean water and sanitation, improve food security, increase awareness of HIV/AIDS, and reduce the impact of droughts and floods.

Why we work in Malawi

Almost half of Malawi’s population lives below the poverty line. Life expectancy, educational outcomes, disease prevention, and nutrition all suffer as a result. Food security remains widespread, especially in rural areas, and the country is vulnerable to natural disasters such as droughts, floods, cyclones and earthquakes. Our work in Malawi seeks to alleviate some of these conditions and supports communities to work towards a brighter future.

Partnership

Working with local communities in Malawi since 2001

Programs

We support two programs through five local partners in Malawi

Priorities

Food security, sustainable agriculture, HIV and AIDS awareness, disaster risk reduction

Program snapshot

Malawi & Tanzania Integrated Community Development Program

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Tawonga's family in Malawi. Photo: Pilirani Chimombo

Running since: 2016

Partner Agencies: CADECOM Malawi and four Dioceses in Malawi and Diocese of Mbulu.

Aims: To increase food security and improve access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene services.

Who it is for: Marginalised communities in Malawi and Tanzania

Achievements: 

  • So far, the program has increased access to clean water for over 5,000 people
  • Nearly 7,000 people now have hand-washing facilities, soap and other cleaning products in their homes
  • In Mzuzu city, diarrhoea cases have decreased from 27 per month to zero
  • Access to basic services helps foster an increased sense of dignity and improves people’s capacity to change their own lives
  • Distributed masks, hygiene kits, shared preventive health messages and conducted training sessions during COVID-19 pandemic

Fact: This program is expected to impact over 96,000 people within five years

Along with your generous support, this program is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP). 

More background

With the majority of people living in rural areas, subsistence farming is common in Malawi. However, natural disasters are frequent, resulting in food shortages, malnutrition and disease.

Natural disasters: Malawi is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, given its location, rapid population growth, environmental degradation and climate variability. Floods, droughts and storms impact people’s lives, livelihoods, and socio-economic infrastructure, pushing large numbers of people into poverty.

Food insecurity: remains widespread, worsened by frequent droughts, especially among the rural poor. Nearly two million people are affected by drought each year. A lack of access to food and clean water leads to chronic malnutrition and increased risk of disease.

Water and sanitation: 2.2 million people out of Malawi’s population of 17 million, do not have access to clean water – while over half of Malawi’s healthcare facilities do not have sufficient Water Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) provisions for staff and patients (sources...UNOCHA, Water Aid). 

 

You can help

With your generous support, we work with our local partners in Malawi to improve HIV and AIDS awareness, disaster risk reduction and, food security and sustainable agriculture, to increase access to clean water and hygiene services.

Become a regular giver

You can provide critical lifesaving aid and assistance to the communities in Malawi devastated by earthquakes, cyclones, flooding or conflicts. Your donation means that our partners on the ground can respond quickly and efficiently when disasters strike.

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