Objectives

The Overall Objective (Impact) of this action is to strengthen local CSOs contribute to improved nutritional status, especially for children under five, in Malawi. 

The Specifics Objectives of this action are to: 

1. Enhance CSO capacity to promote equity, innovation and access to micronutrient rich, fortified, and bio fortified foods; 

Strengthen CSO capacity to monitor and hold duty bearers to account for the consumption of quality, safe, nutritious and appropriately bio fortified and fortified foods and infant food.

Results

Action has 3 expected outputs:

1. Increased availability and access of naturally micronutrient rich and bio-fortified foods for under 5 children and women of childbearing age
2. Increased availability and access of bio-fortified foods for under 5 children and women of reproductive age through CSO seed system strengthening
3. Increased equitable access to fortificants in Malawi and medium scale fortification of maize flour supported by CSOs.

Increased capacity of regulators to implement their roles in Food Fortification and Infant Foods’ laws and guidelines and increased capacity of CSOs to hold actors to account.

Implementation Status

The implementation of the action started on 1^st March 2025 and is on-going. EUR 827,210 first pre-financing paid in February 2025. In inception phase.

Main Implementing Partners

• Gorta-Self Help Africa
• Stitching the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
• Catholic Development Commission in  Malawi (CADECOM)
• Civil Society Organisation Nutrition Alliance (CSONA)
• CSO nutrition networks

Main Beneficiaries

• 20 relevant government sectors in four district councils: five ministries and government departments including Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS), Department of Nutrition (DNHA), Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of HealthCSO nutrition networks 

• The National Fortification Alliance (NFA) and CSOs

• Malawi Bureau of Standards

• 32 CSOs in the four target districts

• 80 members of the District Nutrition Coordinating Committees (DNCCs), and 502 care groups that support Women of Reproductive Age and under 5 children.

• eight local leaders (Traditional Authorities)

• 13 Seed Suppliers/ Seed companies

• 41 Agro-Dealers

• 31 Food Processors and Millers

• 1 Premix distributor

• 39,209 rural consumers of bio fortified and fortified products (18,027 are women of reproductive age and 9,213 are children under 5 years old) and 160 local CSO. Target groups include 9,013 Smallholder Farmers (through 9 cooperatives),

• 80 members of the District Nutrition Coordinating Committees (DNCCs), and 502 care groups that support Women of Reproductive Age and under 5 children.

• Dedza, Balaka, Mulanje, and Thyolo districts for GAIN dosifier pilots fortification and all districts for advocacy work

Final Beneficiaries:

40 schools and 4 district hospitals that are not part of nationwide feeding programmes that provide meals to a large number of expectant mothers and young children but have no access to fortified products.