our work

in malawi

Malawi overview

With up to 85% of the population dependent on agriculture for food and livelihoods, many farming communities in Malawi are struggling to cope with the added impact of climate change.

Self Help Africa is working on a combination of directly implemented and partner-led projects in Malawi. The programme goal, to support smallholder farming communities to achieve sustainable livelihoods, is in line with the government’s current Growth and Development Strategy II.

The largest single project is DISCOVER, a five-year collaborative venture with a number of international partners that is seeking to support households to adapt to climate change.

Full Name: Republic of Malawi
Population: 19.16 million (World Bank, 2018)
Population Growth (Yearly): 2.91%
Capital: Lilongwe
Area: 118,484 SQ KM (45,747 SQ Miles)
Major Languages: English (Official), Chichewa, Numerous indigenous languages
Major Religions: Christianity, Islam, Traditional Beliefs

Malawi projects

Self Help Africa are helping smallholder farmers to increase production and efficiency by: Supporting farmer field school groups to promote sustainable agricultural practices; Promoting the adoption of legume and small-scale vegetable production; integrating nutrition training and appropriate small-scale irrigation technologies; and training of smallholder farmers on diversification of crops.

SHA is also adopting new technologies to make farming more efficient. To achieve this, farmers are being organised into Farmer Field School groups. These groups involve farmer-led research to document and share best practices, training farmers in data collection and record management, linking farmer groups to mobile phone-based information services on sustainable agricultural methodologies, and developing community Early Warning Systems (EWS) in flood and drought-prone areas.

402,000 smallholder farmers (including 241,201 women)

This project is being delivered by a collaboration between: SHA, University College Dublin, and Orbas with the support of the relevant local government district authorities to combat the increasing prevalence of Fall Armyworm in Malawi. The aim of the project is to create a model to detect and monitor Fall Armyworm (FAW) outbreaks and severity. This model will then be developed into a software tool to help public institutions, NGOs and commercial farmers to maximize the benefits of insecticide, manage yield losses, and adapt to climate change challenges.

3,500 households in Balaka District (21,000 people)
50% women

This is a research project which aims to evaluate farmers’ preferences in their selections of seed, genotype seed varieties and assess farmer-managed seed system.
Through this research SHA hopes to acquire a better understanding and awareness of farmer preferred crop varieties while increasing knowledge and skills for identification of preferred crop varieties by the farming communities. The project also aims to improve the quality of farmer managed seed and enhance their availability and distribution within the local farming communities

Stories from Malawi

Menstrual Hygiene Day: Making Menstruation a Normal Fact of Life by 2030
26th May 2023
KULIMA BETTER: Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Growth in Malawi
31st March 2023

Gender Comic Book is Helping Families to Work Together
18th August 2022
Malawi family uses new-found tech knowledge and skills to transform lives
16th August 2022

Country Profile

Read the Malawi Profile

TO CONTACT US ABOUT OUR WORK IN MALAWI:

PO BOX B-495
Lilongwe
Malawi
Tel. +265 1750568
Email: [email protected]

our work

in malawi

Malawi overview

Malawi projects

Better Extension Training Transforming Economic Return (BETTER)

DEVELOPING REMOTE SENDING TECHNOLOGY TO MONITOR FALL ARMYWORM

Strengthening farmer-managed seed systems for improved seed quality and access to preferred varieties in Malawi

Stories from Malawi

Menstrual Hygiene Day: Making Menstruation a Normal Fact of Life by 2030

KULIMA BETTER: Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Growth in Malawi

Gender Comic Book is Helping Families to Work Together

Malawi family uses new-found tech knowledge and skills to transform lives

Country Profile

TO CONTACT US ABOUT OUR WORK IN MALAWI:

Global Report on Food Crises 2023: Global Hunger on the rise again

Menstrual Hygiene Day: Making Menstruation a Normal Fact of Life by 2030

World Environment Day 2023: Beat Plastic Pollution

Stone Streetfest 2023