Help accelerate the end of poverty for families in Malawi with cash transfers.
288,000+ people uplifted across 4 cities and 11 districts throughout Malawi
Since 2019, GiveDirectly has delivered unconditional cash transfers to the poorest households in Malawi. We've worked with the Government of Malawi to reach the most vulnerable communities in both rural and urban areas across 4 cities and 11 districts.
GiveDirectly has partnered with the Government of Malawi to run programs targeted for poverty reduction and improved food security, education, and farming.
"I am 36 years old and I am married. We bought a bicycle because we have always had problems traveling in times of emergencies. I was very happy because our lives really changed."
"We are so glad we were able to withdraw our transfer right here in the village without having to travel a long distance. This feels very safe for us. We have managed to buy maize because food was our top priority. My wife has also joined a Village Savings and Loan (VSL) group, and we are planning to start a business together. Next, we plan to buy bricks and iron sheets to finally rebuild a house after ours collapsed in the rain last year."
"Farming, just like any other business, needs capital. For us farmers, the main capital we need is money, so we can buy things like fertilizer, more land, seeds, labor, and other supplies to ensure we make a good profit. I'm so happy, and I can't wait for the rainy season to start. I'm fully prepared for this year's farming season—I have food, fertilizer, enough land, and with my business, I'll be able to buy seeds. I believe next year will be my best year yet!"
"I have been running the shop for a while, but due to a lack of sufficient capital, it became a challenge to keep it going, and at one point, I was on the verge of closing it down. With the cash I received, I invested K600,000 into the business. Now, the shop is thriving, and I am making K150,000 a day."
In the past 15 years, $16.5 billion has been spent on development assistance in Malawi. Yet in that same time, poverty rates have hardly changed. Malawi remains one of the poorest countries in the world with at least 75% of the population living below the international extreme poverty line of $3/day. Malawi is also a climate change "hotspot" characterized by declining agricultural productivity and very low resilience to shocks. These economic and climate challenges feed into the chronic food insecurity that affects 5.4M people in Malawi and leaves 35% of children under 5 years of age stunted.
The Government of Malawi's First 10-year Implementation Plan of its 'MW2063 Agenda' (2021-2030) focuses on meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, which crucially include "No Poverty."
Sources: Government of Malawi, World Bank, IPC
Facts and highlights shared by GiveDirectly staff in Malawi
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