Malawi

Malawi is vulnerable to climate threats, most recently in 2019 (Cyclone Idai), 2022 (Tropical Storm Ana and Cyclone Combe), and 2023 (Cyclone Freddy). The floods from these disasters affect hundreds of thousands of Malawians, destroying crops, livestock, and food stores, while also damaging homes, roads, and water and sanitation infrastructure. 

Concern responds to these emergencies based on the specific needs of the most-affected communities following each event. We distribute non-food items, including mosquito nets, blankets, soap, and kits to help families build safe and temporary shelters while remaining safe from additional risks like malaria or waterborne illnesses. We distribute cash to displaced families, enabling quicker recovery and supporting local markets and economies. 

We also put the experience of each emergency response towards building resilience against the next one. Through the Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance project, Concern aims to build the resilience of 15 communities (totalling nearly 300,000 people) to cope with future flooding and other natural disasters.

Concern is working to address the hunger crisis in Malawi with several programs that focus on agriculture (a sector that employs over 60% of Malawians) and nutrition. 

Among these initiatives is Food Systems for Food Security (FS4FS), a five-year, Irish Aid-funded program designed to improve food and nutrition security by broadening crop diversity, building connections between farmers and the private sector, and advocating for improved policy at a wider level.

Across our agriculture programs, Concern integrates the promotion of resilient farming practices, including crop diversification, planting early maturing varieties, advocating for irrigation equipment, and implementing practices like intercropping and ridging. These practices collectively fortify communities against climate-related shocks, particularly unpredictable rainfall patterns and dry spells.

We also work with communities in Malawi to improve their financial independence and security, especially in the face of a changing climate. Our IFAD-supported program FARMSE uses the Graduation model of poverty reduction to help families receiving social protection under the government’s Social Cash Transfer Program (SCTP) to sustainably break the cycle of poverty. We accomplish this through skills training, mentorship, and funding as participants build a small business. Currently, 2,500 families are participating in this two-year project. 

More broadly, we work with those living in extreme poverty who have been excluded from other government support programs to ensure that they are part of community-based programs that provide financial stability and skill development, including lead farmer groups, village savings and loans associations, and adult literacy classes.