Malawi

We Effect has been working in Malawi since 2003 to improve the livelihoods of people living in poverty, particularly those from rural areas and especially women.

We Effect’s main work includes the mobilisation of resources and organisational capacity building of our partners, to enable them to effectively meet the member driven services of their membership in a sustainable manner – and to ensure members claim their rights.

In Malawi We Effect works with rural development and, through our partner organisations, small holder farmers receive training in sustainable farming methods and climate change adaptation.. We Effect also supports Malawian housing cooperatives and women’s rights organisations.

Malawi remains one of the poorest countries globally, with a poverty rate of around 72% as of 2024. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which employs over 80% of the population, making it vulnerable to external shocks like climate change. Food insecurity is a persistent challenge, with recurring droughts and floods impacting agricultural output. Malnutrition is a significant issue in Malawi, with high rates of stunting (35.5% of children under 5), wasting (2.6% of children under 5), and micronutrient deficiencies. According to the 2024 Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, 430,000 people in Malawi’s major livelihood zones were classified in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse acute food insecurity between May 2024 and March 2025. The IPC report states that the prevalence of acute malnutrition has increased, with some districts registering over 30% increase in severe acute malnutrition (SAM) admissions compared to the same period in 2023.
The country faces a significant housing backlog, with many people living in substandard conditions, particularly in urban areas. Malawi has a high vulnerability to climate change, ranking 5th on the 2022 Global Climate Risk Index. Frequent extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts, have had devastating impacts on the country’s economy and population. In terms of gender inequality, Malawi ranks 145th out of 162 countries on the Gender Inequality Index.

Results in Malawi

• A total of 139,442 rights holders received support, which includes 42,255 females, 31,756 males, 26,057 female youths, and 21,003 male youths. This comprehensive support aimed to address various needs and challenges faced by different groups within the community
• Fifty-two women successfully gained access to land, a crucial step in ensuring their economic empowerment and enabling them to participate more fully in agricultural and economic activities.
• A total of 55,777 smallholder farmers transitioned to organic or climate-resilient farming methods. This shift represents a significant move towards sustainable agriculture, improving environmental health and resilience to climate change while enhancing agricultural productivity.