Malawi will receive US$158 million in development assistance from US

The assistance is intended to strengthen democratic institutions and local governance, stimulate economic growth, and improve the country's early grade reading and nutrition.

Power and Chakwera at Lilongwe's Kamuzu Palace

Malawi: Samantha Power, the Global Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), announced a US$158 million grant to Malawi on Saturday to support democracy and development goals.

Power made the remarks during an audience with President Lazarus Chakwera at Lilongwe's Kamuzu Palace, on July 2, 2022, where he hosted Power to discuss Malawi's challenges as well as opportunities to improve economic opportunity and prosperity for the people.

"The world has been really inspired by Malawi," she said, "in which Malawian citizens rose up to claim the democracy that is theirs, insisting on free and fair elections, counting votes, and fighting corruption."

She stated that they intend to begin by investing in Malawi's democratic institutions and parliament.

"First, we intend to invest $27 million in strengthening Malawi's democratic institutions, which will include a $15 million investment to improve public service delivery in eight districts across the country, as well as $11.7 million to strengthen parliament, which will include assistance in legislative, analysis, and drafting, as well as support for increased depositions and public hearings,” she elaborated.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Nancy Tembo stated in her remarks that they are extremely grateful to the American government for its assistance.

"This has been a good trip by Samantha Power for us because this support will really help our country develop and prosper; it will expand agricultural commercialization, women and youth empowerment, and job creation, and it is our hope that we can all strengthen and grow together,” she stated.

Among the five-year projects, "Improve Early Grade Literacy" is the only one that has received $74 million in funding, with the goal of improving the delivery of high-quality early grade reading instruction in all of Malawi's over 5,700 public primary schools nationwide, and "Nutrition" has received $46 million.