While the last few years have brought progress in addressing decades of underdevelopment, Malawi remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Largely dependent on agriculture, this small landlocked country has been badly affected by changes in the climate, leaving many struggling to provide for themselves and their families.
Hunger: every year in Malawi, millions of people struggle to grow enough to eat. Current farming methods can barely support the number of people living off the land. Regular droughts and floods make it even harder for communities to cope.
HIV: around one in every ten adults in Malawi live with HIV. This places a significant burden on the many Malawians who care for sick HIV patients, as often they are ill themselves or are looking after children orphaned by the virus.
Climate change: Malawi is one of the countries in Africa worst affected by climate change. Extremes of weather such as heavy rains, floods and droughts are common and dangerous to a population of whom at least 90% in rural areas live off the land.
Our work
We’re helping families improve farming methods to grow more food, helping prevent the spread of HIV and delivering effective care and treatment for those living the virus. We are:
• Raising awareness of HIV, supporting people living with the virus and challenging the stigma they face.
• Supporting communities in areas at high risk of drought and flooding to build their resilience to future disasters so they no longer have to rely on emergency aid.
• Helping communities to engage in profitable agriculture by ensuring they can grow and market crops effectively.
Our partners
Christian Aid partner the Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) has been working with communities in the country’s Shire Valley, a hotspot for floods. Community volunteers have learned how to identify when the risk of flooding increases and make sure everyone is aware and prepared.
This approach has been recognised by the UN’s Development Programme and the EU’s Humanitarian Aid Department as one of the most effective ways to reduce the impact of flooding in Malawi.
And by working with the government’s water and meteorological departments to share this work, Christian Aid and EAM are ensuring it benefits communities right across Malawi.
Our partners’ work building the resilience of communities to disasters like floods and droughts is widely recognised and in 2011 the UK government through UK Aid, Irish Aid and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs awarded a grant of £10.1 million to scale it up.
Communities will be supported to improve their livelihoods while also influencing decisions at local and national level that affect their lives.
Further links
• Find out about our Solar power project in Malawi
• Beverley Knight visits Malawi with Christian Aid
• Christian Aid Scotland’s work in Malawi
What you can do
• Help us continue our support of partners in Malawi by donating.
• Take action to help eradicate poverty and injustice across the world.