…but who controls the dwindling safety net?
About one million beneficiaries are expected to be affected following significant cuts to Malawi’s social protection budget, as questions intensify over how the country’s limited safety net resources are allocated and overseen.
Government has reduced the social protection allocation in the 2026/2027 national budget from K217 billion to K123 billion, a decline largely attributed to reduced donor support that has historically financed the bulk of the sector. The cuts come as about 3.5 million Malawians depend on social protection programmes for basic support.
Several key programmes have been affected. The Social Cash Transfer Programme has been reduced by 14 percent, while the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (Mtukula pa Khomo) has been cut by 57 percent. The Urban Public Works Programme has also declined by 35 percent, according to official figures.
As funding tightens, attention is shifting to governance concerns, particularly the systems used to allocate resources and whether they are strong enough to ensure fairness, transparency and accountability.
Stakeholders say the sector’s layered delivery structure, spanning central government, district councils and community-level structures, can create room for discretion in beneficiary selection, especially when resources are limited. This has raised concerns over transparency in targeting and distribution.
The Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation says it is finalising a Social Protection Legal Framework aimed at strengthening coordination, governance and accountability across programmes.
Senior Deputy Director for Poverty Reduction and Social Protection Dalitso Kalimba said the framework is intended to improve institutional arrangements and promote more consistent service delivery nationwide.
“Once finalised, the proposed legislation will provide a comprehensive legal framework for social protection, strengthen institutional arrangements, and promote greater consistency in the delivery of social protection services,” Kalimba said.
Development partners, including the Embassy of Ireland, have called for stronger collaboration with local stakeholders to enhance transparency and protect programme integrity.
Malawi’s social protection system currently reaches about 21.3 percent of the population, mainly through cash transfers and public works programmes targeting the poorest households.
As funding declines and demand rises, attention is increasingly shifting from how many people are covered to how remaining resources are managed, and who ultimately controls them.
