NGO Projects
The implementation of the Mtete Sustainable Irrigated Agriculture (MSIA) Project by the Foundation for Irrigation and Sustainable Development (FISD), in collaboration with Farmers Forum for Trade and Social Justice (FAFOTRAJ), has brought significant changes to the agricultural landscape in T/A Kalolo, Lilongwe West, Malawi. Traditionally reliant on rain-fed agriculture, farmers faced numerous challenges including low productivity, soil degradation, and lack of diversification. Funded by the European Union, the MSIA Project aims to ensure food and income security through sustainable irrigated agriculture.
Covering seven Group Village Headmen, the project focuses on maize, groundnuts, and tobacco production, with objectives aligned with the Agricultural Sector Wide Approach Support Project (ASWAp). By constructing a high-capacity dam and involving local communities through water users associations and natural resources management committees, the project seeks to improve crop yields, enhance environmental conservation, and build agricultural capacity. The successful completion of dam construction and land development signifies progress toward year-round irrigation and multiple harvests. Additionally, community sensitization and training initiatives underscore the project's commitment to long-term sustainability and environmental stewardship.
1. School Meals
In Malawi, low primary school enrollment rates persist due to poverty, leading to children attending school without proper nourishment. Recognizing this challenge, the Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MoEST) introduced the School Health and Nutrition Strategy (SHN) in 2008, advocating for school meal provision to improve attendance and nutritional well-being.
NGOs like the Foundation for Irrigation and Sustainable Development (FISD) have supported this initiative, with projects like the Irrigated School Gardens for Sustainable School Meals Project (ISGSSMP). Implemented in Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania, ISGSSMP encourages schools to cultivate high-value cash crops for commercial purposes, using the proceeds to purchase school meal materials. This shift from subsistence to commercial farming aims to enhance sustainability and ensure children receive proper nutrition for their education
WFP Funded School Meals
The World Food Program (WFP), recognizing the need for sustainable solutions to address starvation-related primary school dropout rates, has partnered with organizations like the Foundation for Irrigation and Sustainable Development (FISD) to implement innovative projects. Departing from traditional models, FISD's Sustainable Irrigated School Gardens for Sustainable School Meals project offers a more sustainable approach.
WFP has joined forces with FISD to pilot this model in two schools in Salima and Dedza, aiming to reduce dropout rates by providing nutritious school meals. The project, still in the production stage, has made significant progress in construction, with plans for planting tomatoes and onions underway. While the meals are currently provided two to three times a week, the inclusion of an agribusiness component offers promising prospects for increased frequency in the future, reflecting a shift towards long-term solutions.
PRAFOCRECC & SPISES
The Foundation for Irrigation and Sustainable Development (FISD), in collaboration with Green Livelihood (GL) and funded by Dan Church Aid (DCA), is implementing a project in Dowa district aimed at promoting food security. Operating in Chivala EPA, the project focuses on enhancing access to productive assets, improving participation in decision-making processes, and building resilience to climate change. Initiatives such as beekeeping and crop diversification have led to significant progress, including increased access to livelihood assets and improved collaboration between stakeholders. Similarly, the SPISES project addresses high dropout rates among girl students in Malawi's secondary schools, providing direct bursaries and solar irrigation kits to keep girls in school. Through community engagement and training, SPISES tackles dropout reasons like early marriages, benefiting hundreds of students and fostering sustainable income generation.
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