Malawi

Malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and respiratory diseases are widespread in Malawi. Moreover, maternal and child mortality remain very high. Money, personnel and medical equipment are lacking in hospitals and health stations. And the management of health services is inadequate both at central and district level.

But the Malawian Ministry of Health is tackling these deficiencies; together with international donors, it has set up a joint work programme with the involvement of the German Federal Government. KfW is also active in other bilateral projects on behalf of the German Federal Government. Health stations are built, renovated and better equipped with the help of KfW. And it finances vaccines. Urgently needed medical supplies, for example to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, can also be procured. Given the high rate of population growth, support is also given to measures that promote access to modern methods of family planning.

The first improvements in the healthcare system are already visible: maternal and child mortality rates are steadily declining, and access to vaccines and contraceptives is currently relatively assured throughout the country.

In Malawi, 70% of the population lives below the official poverty line. People need financial support from the government for their daily needs – food, clothing and medicine. Every two months, households in extreme need receive an average of EUR 17 to finance the most basic necessities. This nationwide Social Cash Transfer Programme, financed by various donors, has proven successful especially in times of crisis; after Cyclone Idai and during the coronavirus pandemic, for example, additional payments were made to the poorest population groups. Together with other donors, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union have increased transfer payments in the short term, provided one-off payments and expanded the scope of those who are eligible for the programme.

External evaluations have shown that the programme has made an effective contribution to alleviating poverty; families eligible for the grant eat more regularly, more children go to school for longer. Young girls are under less pressure to supplement household income or to support themselves through sex work. There are also fewer cases of early pregnancy. The number of households with livestock or land has grown, the economic situation has improved overall. The effectiveness of the programme is also reflected in improved general health and the reduced mortality rate of children under the age of five.

Most people in Malawi live from subsistence farming. The focus of German development cooperation is therefore to promote economic development in rural areas and to improve their links to urban areas. High priority is given to increasing efficiency, diversification and commercialisation of locally produced products with the aim of improving income and employment in rural areas, especially for the poorer sections of the population.

The Malawi Innovation Challenge Fund promotes innovative business models of private enterprises. The requirement is that they have a positive social and environmental impact, for example, when smallholders are included in value chains. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is behind the fund. To help the Malawian economy deal with the coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath, special COVID-19 measures were set up with UNDP in 2020 in a short period of time.

In addition, the Malawian National Local Government Finance Committee provides funding for the construction and expansion of markets. This is intended to make it easier for the small towns receiving support to stimulate the local economy and generate income. In parallel, the capacities of local governments to manage markets are being strengthened to provide residents with sustainable local sales opportunities in the long term.

Project information - Private sector development (PDF, 127 KB, non-accessible)

Around one in eight children born in Malawi does not weigh enough at birth. This poses health risks and often results in chronic diseases. The cause is poor nutrition and illnesses of mothers before and during pregnancy as well as diets not suitable for small children. However, to prevent malnutrition and undernourishment, more food would have to be provided and made permanently available in Malawi.

The first thousand days after the birth of a child are particularly important. This phase is crucial for the general development of children – especially for the development of the brain and longitudinal body growth. Improving children’s nutrition in those crucial first three years of their lives is the goal of Malawi’s food security programme. It is supported by KfW with funds from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Mothers receive on-site training in small groups on healthy nutrition, hygiene, preventive healthcare and early childhood development. In addition, women and children are given trace elements and vitamin supplements. The project uses these measures to contribute to improving the health of women and children in particular – with positive impacts on the development of small children, on school performance and thus, in the medium term, also on the country’s economic development.

Project information - Food security (PDF, 181 KB, non-accessible)

In Malawi, parents have not had to pay school fees for several years. As a result, school enrolment rates and the percentage of children completing primary school have doubled since 2010/2011 – but at the cost of larger classes and a declining level of education. On average, there is one teacher for every 65 children. After finishing the sixth grade, the learning outcomes of pupils are far below the regional average.

KfW is therefore supporting the country in the primary education sector – especially in setting up school infrastructure. It finances classrooms, sanitary facilities, administrative buildings as well as staff housing at the primary schools. In addition, there are rehabilitation measures at teacher training colleges, where primary school teachers are trained. Funding is also provided for textbooks and tablet computers with tailor-made learning apps. The main aim is to improve the training of qualified teachers.

Around three million Malawian primary school pupils benefit directly from the education projects: fewer lessons are cancelled, the classes are smaller, and new and better teaching materials ensure a higher performance level. And the education system is becoming more sustainable overall.