Malawi Districts Push for Higher Nutrition Funding to Fight Stunting
Salima district currently reports a 34.5% stunting rate, indicating significant regional variations in childhood malnutrition across Malawi.
DEDZA, Malawi — Two Malawian districts are intensifying efforts to secure increased government nutrition funding as local stunting rates surpass national averages, officials said, writes Zenak Matekenya, MANA.
Dedza district reported a rise in childhood stunting from 42% to 43.6% between 2023 and 2024, significantly higher than the national rate of 37%. Officials attribute the increase to El Niño-related crop failures.
"Government's commitment towards nutrition funding is at least 5% of the district budget, but for Salima, we had a gap of about 3.7%," said Yamikani Makondi, Salima's District Principal Nutrition and HIV Officer, during a budget analysis meeting in Dowa.
The districts are developing minimum standard budgets through an Oxfam project funded by GIZ to lobby for additional resources.
"We have always complained of having limited resources, but we have never had a basis as to how much we need as a country," said Chimwemwe Chilenga, Oxfam's Nutrition Coordinator.
Dedza officials have used existing funds to promote backyard gardens, though Loti Makina, District Principal Nutrition Officer, noted that most nutrition programs still rely heavily on partner organisations.
"Despite this challenge, the government has taken a step forward by allocating funds towards nutrition," Makina said.
"We are urging the government to do more."
Salima district currently reports a 34.5% stunting rate, indicating significant regional variations in childhood malnutrition across Malawi.