Republic of Malawi

The EU supports Malawi in developing climate-resilient and sustainable food systems, following the farm-to-fork approach. Malawi also benefits from EU regional and thematic programmes on agricultural research and innovation for advancing towards sustainable and resilient food systems. Key actions include: 

• Greening & Growing Malawi: promoting sustainable agricultural value chains and climate-smart practices. Supporting community nutrition through supply and demand-side interventions and improving nutrition information systems.
• Agricultural Commercialisation and Resilience Enhancement Project (AgCom 2.0): supporting the transition to commercial farming and agricultural diversification.
• Kulima (Access to Finance Facility): improving access to finance for SMEs in agriculture.
• Aquaculture Value Chain Programme: strengthening the aquaculture sector for sustainable growth.
• DeSIRA & Leg4Dev Research Projects: promoting climate-smart innovation and research, including on maize and cassava cropping systems, to improve agriculture and food systems in Malawi.
• Various food programmes: Food and Nutrition Security Programme; providing school meals from smallholder farmers in 8 districts through the Scaling-up Homegrown School Feeding Programme; promoting food fortification, infant foods, and nutrition advocacy through civil society capacity building. 

To promote both environmental sustainability and climate resilience, focusing on ecosystem-based approaches and disaster risk reduction, our efforts include: 

• Greening & Growing Malawi: supporting natural resource management, land use planning, and ecosystem preservation.
• Sustainable Management of Landscapes and Tenure (SAMALA Project): promoting sustainable land management and tenure systems.
• Nature Africa Phase I: supporting biodiversity conservation in the MAZA Transfrontier Conservation Area.
• Green Heart of Africa Programme: developing eco-tourism value chains and empowering local communities to offer ecotourism services.
• Climate change: strengthening systems for managing and anticipating climate-related disasters, and developing responses for climate included displacement. 

The EU also partners with Malawi on advancing renewable energy, improving energy infrastructure, and fostering a competitive energy market. Key initiatives in the energy sector include: 

• Rehabilitation of the Eastern Backbone Power Transmission line to improve electricity transmission from Lilongwe to northern districts.
• The Mozambique-Malawi and Zambia-Malawi interconnectors, connecting Malawi to regional power pools for expanded energy access.
• The Malawi Energy Programme: strengthening the private sector’s role in the energy sector.
• Providing solar energy solutions to water boards through the Loan for Renewable Energy and freshwater infrastructure projects.
• Provision of a grant for the construction of the Mpatamanga dams on the Shire River: project jointly run by EDF, TotalEnergies, the World Bank Group and the EIB. 

To enhance Malawi’s digital connections and to improve transport infrastructure, our common efforts focus on: 

• Developing reliable and affordable fibre networks through the Regional Fibre Connectivity Programme.
• Upgrading the North-South Corridor, including the Songwe Bridge border crossing and M1 northern segments, supported by EU and EIB funding.
• Rehabilitating the Blantyre Airport to improve air connectivity. 

To strengthen economic integration and promote competitive economies, our actions include: 

• Enhancing the investment climate and business environment through initiatives like the Tikuze Malawi programme, promoting job creation and facilitating Foreign Direct Investment.
• Supporting skills development and entrepreneurship with programmes like Zantchito Skills for Jobs and Opportunity-driven VET, aimed at improving vocational education and creating employment opportunities.
• Investing in private sector development, including support for SMEs, rural income generation, and women’s entrepreneurship through programmes like IYBA WE4A and Employment Promotion for Women for Green Transformation. 

The partnership with Malawi also focuses on strengthening democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Malawi, while improving economic governance and fostering a better business environment.  

Efforts include empowering youth, supporting independent media, enhancing public finance management, and promoting a greener budgetary process, alongside fostering a stronger private sector and tackling corruption, e.g. through the following programmes: 

• Economic Governance for Investment Programme: improving the investment climate, capacity building, and quality certification in key value chains.
• SecFin Africa: combatting illicit financial flows, including money laundering and terrorism financing.
• Strengthening Public Finance and Economic Management: enhancing the management of public funds and improving financial transparency.
• Malawi Democratic Governance Programme: strengthening civil registration, enhancing civic education and participation, and supporting credible, transparent elections.
• Access to Justice Programme: supporting the decentralisation of services, alternative sentencing, and expanding paralegal and mediation services. 

With regards to human development, health and social protection, our common efforts focus on supporting women and girls, as well as promoting education related to the green economy. Key actions are: 

• Enhancing public health capabilities through a regional programme aimed at supporting National Public Health Institutes 
• Strengthening social protection systems, including local economic development and the Social Cash Transfer Programme, to empower vulnerable communities and improve social inclusion. 
• Strengthening the education system through the Malawi State & Resilience Building Programme and the Improving Secondary Education in Malawi initiative. 
• Facilitating teacher mobility, academic exchanges and scholarships through the Regional Teacher Initiative for Africa, Erasmus+ and the Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme to enhance higher education opportunities.