introduction to the hunger project malawi

INTRODUCTION TO THE HUNGER PROJECT MALAWI
Kachindamoto epicenter in
Dedza district
Champiti epicenter in Ntcheu
district

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
1. A brief on Malawi’s socio-economic profile
2. Epicenter strategy (VCA – the process)
3. Epicenter Strategy – A brief on tangible results
4. Challenges

1. A BRIEF ON MALAWI’S SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE
Total population = 14-million (85% rural-based). Agro-based-economy
Poverty levels : 40% below poverty line (2008)
52% below poverty line (2006)
65.3% below poverty line (2002)
National literacy rate (58%) but lower for women (44%)
IMR : 100/1000 live births (2008)
225/1000 live births (1990)
MMR :1,120/100000 pregnant women
HIV national prevalence rate : 14% (2009) moving from 16% (2003)
Inflation : 7.9% (2007) moving from 11.5% (2002)
Economic growth rate : 9.7% (2008), up from 8.5% (2006) up from 1%
(2003)

Some conclusions on Socio-economic profile
• Factors blamed for hunger & poverty in Malawi are complex
• Communities do not restrict the definition of hunger and poverty to
issues of food and money only
• Authentic community ownership and empowerment is key to
sustainable development in Malawi
• As such a holistic approach, which promotes authentic
community participation, ownership & empowerment,
towards the end of hunger & poverty appears to be the
best way forward
• The Epicenter Strategy “provides the magic”

2. Epicenter strategy (VCA – The process)
• Vision, Commitment and Action (VCA) Village Workshops.
Conducted in all villages before and during implementation.
• 5-principles established during VCAs
Change of Mindset.
Good Leadership.
Vision creation.
Commitment.
Action.
Partner village 6
Partner village 1
Partner village 2
Epicenter structure
Partner village 5 Partner village 3
Partner village 4

3. Epicenter Strategy – Results Highlights
A. Food Security: Average yields have improved from 600kgs to 2,000kgs
per acre per HH per growing season (an average HH of 5 people needs 1,500-kgs
maize per year).
Jali
Mr & Mrs Pemba’s maize
production capacity has moved
from 1,250kgs (2001) to 5,200kgs
(2005)
more than 40 bags of
1.8%
31 to 40 bags of 50-
3.6%
21 to 30 bags of 50-
3.6%
16 to 20 bags of 50-
10.7%
Ligowe 2005 Ligowe 2009
more than 40 bags of
5.4%
1 to 10 bags of 50-k
19.6%
31 to 40 bags of 50-
21.4%
11 to 15 bags of 50-
14.3%
11 to 15 bags of 50-
16.1%
1 to 10 bags of 50-k
64.3%
21 to 30 bags of 50-
23.2%
16 to 20 bags of 50-
16.1%

State President visit to Nsondole Epicenter
Community Food Bank in 2005
Irrigation farming: Enabling farmers to harvest twice in one year without depending on rainfall
Nchalo epicenter

B. Micro-finance
•There is now Malawi’s First Rural Women owned SACCO in Nsondole epicenter
•There is evidence of women economic empowerment i.e women able to financially
support their households, pay school fees for their children, buy medicines for their
homes, improve their homes or build new houses, open savings accounts and
continuously save money, improve their household food production

•2001 •2004
Micro-finance support to PLWHIV piloted in Nchalo now scaled-up to other epicenters: Mrs
Mulonda-below- of Nchalo now running a water kiosk & a hawker. They’ve also built a house which
they are renting out.

C. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria & other diseases
585 (50% men, 50% women,
50% youths) HIV/AIDS
specialized Animators trained.
VBW have created a platform
for among others modification
of endangering Cultural
practices i.e “Kulowa Kufa” –
Kutulo 1 village, Nchalo
epicenter.

• Access and use of HIV & AIDS preventative and treatment services improved:
• We’ve partnered with MACRO to provide Village-Mobile-HTC since 2006
(now migrating the partnership to GOM-DHOs for sustainability purposes)
• Engaged with local government structures to improve the proportion of the
rural population accessing and using ARTs. One outstanding result is
Ntcheu DHO who opened Champiti Epicenter dispensary as a mobile ART
Outreach center in 2009, now adopted by Ligowe and Nchalo epicenters

• Communities now able to access basic health
services including Family Planning, treatment for
malaria & other diseases i.e a total of 20,319-people
(6,814-males and 13,505-females) received treatment at the
Ligowe epicenter dispensary alone from April to June 2010);
• Communities now able to access vaccination
services for under-five children i.e a total of 417-
children were immunized (190-males, 227-Females) at
Nsondole epicenter dispensary alone from April to June 2010 )
• Free distribution by the Government of Antimalaria
Insecticide Treated nets (ITNs) in
epicenter clinics

Early & Adult Education
2000/2001 2001/2002 2002/2003
JALI 53.1% 60.2% 70.2%
NCHALO 29.2% 33.4% 36%

ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER
• Objective: To improve communities access to safe and portable water
• 75.9% (Jali), 81.8% (Nsondole), 87.1% (Nchalo, 91.4% (Ligowe),
91.8% (Mpingo), 95% (Champiti), 97% (Kachindamoto) have access
to safe & portable water

4 : CHALLENGES
Impact deep but not wide-spread due to financial limitations
Resistance to accept the qualitative results of VCA workshop as a
tangible result
The deep rooted spirit of hand-outs in some areas delaying the speed
of progression from phase one
Contradictory messaging (quick fix or slow but sustainable fix)
NUMBER OF EPICENTERS
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
7 7
6
5 5
4 4
2 2 2 2
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Thank you very much!!