The United States of America (USA) Government, through the US Agency for International Development (Usaid), has pumped in US $9.5 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) towards Malawi’s efforts in fight against hunger, which is ravaging the Southeast African nation.
The USA monetary support would go a long way in providing emergency assistance to vulnerable households, support livelihoods of community members and strengthen capacity of national and local institutions to better address food security, disaster risk management and emergency responses in Malawi.
Usaid Malawi Mission Director Catie Lott who made the announcement said the US Government has partnered with Malawi Government and the WFP to support Malawians and refugees as they work to increase their food security and better manage seasonal shocks such as drought and flooding.
Breaking the cycle of hunger
“We are grateful to the US Government’s investment in breaking the cycle of hunger in Malawi. Around the world, Usaid is committed to helping families and individuals produce and purchase reliable, quality food,” said Lott.
Thiry added that WFP would also use the contribution to strengthen capacity and transfer skills to national and local institutions involved in food security, nutrition, disaster risk management, and emergency response.
Usaid has been supporting WFP in Malawi since 2017, helping 382,000 food insecure smallholder farmers improve their productivity, food security, and resilience to shocks. Farmers have built or maintained assets to improve their livelihoods, including community gardens and small-scale irrigation farming, creating healthier natural environments, reducing risks and impacts of shocks, and strengthening resilience to natural disasters. The main harvest of the 2020/21 agricultural season began in April 2021 and is expected to last through June.
 Government, has pumped in US $9.5 million towards Malawi’s efforts in fight against hunger){kind=link}