Johannesburg, South Africa: The Government of Malawi, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and local fisheries cooperatives, is scaling up fish-based products to enhance school feeding programs, improve child nutrition, and create income-generating opportunities for small-scale aquatic food producers. The “Linking Small-Scale Aquatic Food Producers to the School Feeding Programme” initiative positions fish as a key component of school meals, addressing micronutrient deficiencies while supporting economic empowerment in rural communities. This initiative was highlighted at the 19th FAO Subregional Office for Southern Africa Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) Meeting as an example of how nutrition-sensitive interventions can strengthen agrifood systems and rural development.
Malawi faces persistent micronutrient deficiencies among schoolchildren, which affect health and learning outcomes. Recognizing the nutritional benefits of fish and the lack of its inclusion in school meals, FAO and partners trained small-scale fisheries organizations to produce safe and nutritious fish powder suitable for school feeding programs. So far, 457 fisheries organizations have received training in fish processing, food safety, and entrepreneurship, while four cooperatives have been certified by the Malawi Bureau of Standards to produce fish powder. Research conducted by LUANAR and FAO confirmed the feasibility of integrating fish into school meals and evaluated its nutritional impact, supporting evidence-based policy development.
The initiative emphasizes sustainability through a multi-stakeholder approach that ensures community ownership and long-term impact. Investments in processing machinery have improved production efficiency, while new fish-based recipes and food safety protocols are being introduced. Advocacy efforts have led to the inclusion of fish products in school menu planners managed by WFP, fostering policy integration. By linking school meals to local cooperatives, Malawi is strengthening local economies, creating income opportunities for small-scale producers, and building a resilient, market-driven food system that simultaneously improves child health and supports rural livelihoods.
