September 14, 2017
All We Can has begun work in Malawi – We have started working in partnership with inspiring local organisations in the Chikwawa and Nsanjue regions of the country.
Malawi is one of the most impoverished countries in the world. While making progress, having held five peaceful presidential elections since 1993 and achieving steady growth in GDP, around 50% of the population still live below the international poverty line. There are many problems in Malawi that have contributed to such a high poverty rate: An over-reliance on subsistence farming, steady population growth, and the impact of the HIV/Aids crisis. The two regions All We Can is focusing its work on have the highest levels of poverty in the country.
Malawi is full of potential with its stunning landscape and diverse natural resources. However, life can be incredibly challenging. Malawi’s economy is reliant on agriculture, but the country is at high risk of climatic shocks (droughts and flooding). Many people are locked into subsistence farming, yet this often does not provide enough food to feed their families. On 12 April 2016, the Malawian government declared a state of emergency as 6.7 million Malawians faced food insecurity. All We Can responded to this crisis at the time with humanitarian relief.
Other challenges Malawi faces include a high prevalence rate of HIV/Aids. Although, Malawi has taken huge steps to try and combat this disease (mortality rates as a result of HIV/Aids fell by 50% between 2004 and 2014) there is still a long way to go. Approximately 1 million people are thought to live with HIV/Aids today in Malawi. Slow progress is also being made in Malawi to improve the provision of universal primary education and to reduce infant mortality rates, the country continues to face uncertainty limiting its ability to further develop.
All We Can is working in the southern-most regions of Malawi with local organisations committed to seeing long-term and transformative change in the communities they work in. In coming months we will share more news from the country.
Find out more about the local organisations All We Can is supporting in Malawi
