More than two-thirds of households in Malawi are repeatedly hit by climate, economic, and livelihood-related crises, yet fewer than one in three are receiving adequate combined social protection support, exposing a major gap in the country’s food security and resilience systems.
Research findings presented at a dissemination workshop show that while 67% of households experience multiple, overlapping challenges, such as droughts, food shortages, price shocks, and income losses, only 27% benefit from more than one social protection programme.
This is despite clear evidence that households receiving multiple interventions are significantly more resilient and food secure.
The studies, conducted by the MwAPATA Institute, reveal that access to complementary social protection programmes substantially improves household outcomes, underscoring the need for government and development partners to rethink how vulnerable populations are targeted and supported.
On the policy front, the research highlights serious financing gaps in food systems transformation, particularly at the local level, where critical enablers such as agricultural extension services, storage, transport, irrigation, and research remain chronically underfunded.
Extension services emerge as a major weakness, with high vacancy rates among extension workers limiting farmers’ access to vital information and support, even though evidence shows that investment in extension delivers a high benefit-cost ratio.
District-level analysis from Dedza further shows that even in key food basket areas, increased production has not translated into improved nutrition or livelihoods.
This points to weak coordination across the food system, from production and processing to consumption and waste management.
The findings call for stronger and more consistent financing of core food system enablers, alongside deliberate political commitment to ensure vulnerable households can access multiple, complementary social protection programmes capable of sustainably lifting them out of extreme poverty.
