DFID announce extra £8m support for Malawi

Minister for International Development, James Wharton has announced £8.1 million of new support for Malawi, on his first visit to Malawi this week.

Working together with the World Food Programme, the increase will assist an additional 760,000 people identified as in urgent need of food by providing them with maize vouchers.

The SMP welcome this strong continued commitment from DFID to support some of the poorest and most vulnerable communities in Malawi at this critical time of food shortage.

International Development Minister, James Wharton said:

“Widespread drought means millions of people across Africa are being forced to go without vital food or clean water, while others have lost their homes and livelihoods due to severe flooding.

"Scotland can be proud of its role in our response. Scottish NGO’s such as SCIAF and Mary’s Meals are playing a vital role in the UK Government’s work to prevent and prepare for the impact of El Niño by providing lifesaving food, water and shelter to people in urgent need.”

Principal Officer of the Scotland Malawi Partnership, David Hope-Jones OBE said:

"The people of Scotland have enjoyed a close friendship with Malawi for over 150 years. Today, an estimated 46% of Scots can name a friend or family member involved in a Malawi link. This is a dignified two-way partnership, underpinned by friendship, mutual support and solidarity.

"We are proud as nation that both the UK Government and the Scottish Government have been alert and responsive to the urgent humanitarian crisis in Malawi.

"This latest announcement from DFID will make a powerful difference to the lives of a great many of our friends in Malawi with whom we stand shoulder-to-shoulder through this most difficult time."

DFID’s response to the humanitarian situation in Malawi:

• The UK is leading the international response to the humanitarian crisis caused by drought in Malawi, and has given £43.1m to the response so far.

• This includes £8.1 million of new support, as announced by Minister for International Development, James Wharton, on his first visit to Malawi this week. Working together with the World Food Programme, the increase will assist an additional 760,000 people identified as in urgent need of food by providing them with maize vouchers.

• This support continues a strong track record of UK humanitarian support in Malawi, including over £14.5m disbursed to support those affected by drought in 2015 and to prepare for El Nino. UK support provides access to food and nutrition for over 1.5 m people:
  • Nutritional screening of over 800,000 children and treatment of approximately 100,000 children, pregnant and lactating mothers and vulnerable adults who are suffering from acute and moderate malnutrition.
  • Cash transfers for up to one year for over a quarter of a million vulnerable people to enable them to meet emergency food and other needs at local markets. A proportion will be supported to develop their agricultural and other assets in return for cash.
  • Support to 50,000 people to build resilience through asset production over 6 months while providing cash or food.
  • Emergency school feeding for over 60,000 primary age children in the worst affected districts.
  • Support strategic maize procurement, winter cropping and emergency nutrition.

The UK’s Department for International Development is supporting the National Disaster Response Plan in Malawi to help meet the urgent needs of those suffering from hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity.

At the same time, DFID is continuing to work with Government and other partners to ensure that our humanitarian assistance is increasingly effective and helps Malawi break the cycle of food insecurity.

The UK Government’s Aid Match programme has also providing significant support for Scottish organisations working in Malawi. Over the past two years this has included:-

• Over £5m for Mary’s Meals to fund their school feeding programme in Malawi and Zambia

• £1.7m to Glasgow based charity SCIAF to help thousands of women farmers in Malawi, DR Congo and Rwanda.

• Over £500,000 to Edinburgh based EMMS to fund their palliative care programme in Malawi benefiting over 40,000 people.