WFP, World Bank import maize to Malawi to help alleviate food insecurity

MALAWI – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Government of Malawi have signed an agreement to import 48,000 metric tons of maize, valued at US$ 35 million, funded by the World Bank Group.

The funding comes as a response  Crisis Emergency Response Component (CERC), of the Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa – Phase 3, a World Bank Group programme that helps countries quickly access resources during emergencies.

WFP is collaborating closely with the Government of Malawi to address this emergency. Under this agreement, WFP will procure and transport around 48,000 metric tons of maize from Tanzania to Malawi to fill some of the food deficit caused by the El Niño drought.

 The Government of Malawi will distribute the food to approximately 954,000 households, in a national effort to alleviate hunger and assist in ensuring that communities have access to food until the next harvest, which will occur between April and July.

WFP Regional Director for Southern Africa met with the Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs in order to discuss the details of the agreement and reaffirm their shared commitment to addressing Malawi’s dire food needs.

“This is a significant step in complementing Malawi Government’s efforts in provision of relief assistance to food-insecure households across the country,” said Charles Kalemba, Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs in Malawi.

Mr. Kalemba continued to say, “The gesture reflects the strong commitment of the Government and its partners in alleviating hunger and improve food security as per the call made by the State President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera when he declared state of disaster early last year.”

“WFP is focused on making sure critical resources reach the people who need them most. This collaboration shows the strength of partnerships in tackling the challenges caused by climate-related crises,” said Eric Perdison, WFP Regional Director for Southern Africa.

“The Word Bank mobilized US$ 50 million earlier this year to help Malawi address the impact of the recent El Niño-induced drought in the country. We hope this financing will provide greater food security to vulnerable households, and we are proud of our close collaboration with WFP,” said Firas Raad, World Bank Country Manager for Malawi.

Beyond this agreement, WFP is assisting over two million people with food-related assistance, such as malnutrition treatment and school meals, and also providing logistics support to help the Government transport maize to distribution points across Malawi.

According to WFP, Malawi is currently facing acute food insecurity challenges, with 5.7 million people rendered food insecure following the El Niño-induced drought which negatively affected 44 percent of crops. 

The relief maize will help feed food-insecure communities affected by the drought.

Sign up to HERE receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.