The African Development Fund has approved an $8.49 million grant to support communities in Malawi affected by climate-related devastation and strengthen their resilience to future disasters. The funding will be provided through the Climate Action Window, which supports vulnerable countries facing climate risks.
The grant will focus on Phalombe and Thyolo, two districts that were among the hardest hit by Cyclone Freddy in 2023. The cyclone destroyed more than 50,000 hectares of farmland and damaged over 60 irrigation schemes across southern Malawi, severely affecting food production and rural livelihoods.
The effects of the disaster remain serious several years later. Many households in Malawi continue to face poverty and food insecurity, while child stunting remains high in affected districts. In Phalombe and Thyolo, stunting affects up to 38 percent of children under five.
The project, called Enhancing Climate-Adapted Agricultural Productivity through Improved Water Management, will run from June 2026 to September 2031. It aims to restore damaged irrigation infrastructure while helping farmers adopt more resilient and productive agricultural practices.
The project will fully rebuild and climate-proof three damaged irrigation schemes covering 180 hectares. These improvements are expected to help smallholder farmers increase crop yields by 35 to 40 percent and improve household incomes over time.
Around 28,000 farmers will receive training in climate-smart agriculture. The project will also restore 650 hectares of degraded catchment land through nature-based solutions, helping improve water management and reduce future climate risks.
Women and young people will be central to the project’s implementation. At least 40 percent of direct beneficiaries will be women, with female-headed households prioritized to ensure that support reaches vulnerable groups.
The African Development Bank said the project is not only about reconstruction but also transformation. It aims to rebuild infrastructure that can withstand future cyclones while giving farmers the skills, inputs and market access needed to improve long-term livelihoods.
The project will be implemented by a consortium led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, together with the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the United Nations Office for Project Services and the Government of Malawi.
The total value of the five-year project is $14.41 million. In addition to direct support for farmers, it is expected to indirectly benefit more than 10,000 households through economic spillovers from commercial crop production and improved water and sanitation services.
Overall, the project represents an important investment in climate resilience, food security and rural development in Malawi. By restoring irrigation systems, improving water management and supporting climate-smart farming, the initiative aims to help vulnerable communities recover from Cyclone Freddy and prepare for future climate shocks.
