Malawi secures $158 million grant from USAID
In it’s quest to strengthen governance, economic growth, nutrition and literacy, Malawi has secured a grant of $158 million (about 159 billion) fromThe United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Announcing the grant on Saturday at Kamuzu Palace, President Lazarus Chakwera said the support is coming after various engagements that his administration had with United States Agency for International Development, (Usaid).
He said, “The support comes as a result of various engagements our administration has had with Usaid, including one I held in Washington DC with administrator Samantha Power four months ago.
“Our dialogue with Ms Power today at Kamuzu Palace was both to receive the good news and get reaffirmation from the agency of its continued support towards the attainment of sustainable livelihood of everyone.”
Dr Chakwera added that the USAID economic support package will complement another upcoming US government initiative, the Millennium Challenge Account whose impact aims at curtailing poverty through economic growth.
The Visiting administrator, Samantha Power hoped that the funds, to be spread out over five years will impact people’s livelihoods amid the country’s economic woes and soaring food prices.
$11.7 million(about 13 billion) will be invested in helping the Parliament strengthen its legislative, oversight and representative functions according to the statement released afterwards.
The investment will be through Usaid’s new five-year Strengthening Parliament’s Role in Malawi’s Development project.
Part of the statement reads, “The project will power the full expertise of Malawi’s public service by facilitating stronger coordination between Parliament and statutory oversight institutions to better combat corruption and further empower civil society and media to demand accountability.”
USAID further said it plans to award a $15 million (K16.5 billion) five-year project, subject to appropriations, to strengthen local governance based on the principle decisions about sustainable socio-economic development.
Additionally, the agency has said it will insert $35 million (K38.5 billion) into the country’s economic recovery through a five-year initiative.
“The project will focus on empowering women and youth, expanding agricultural commercialisation, increasing household and community resilience, and addressing the impacts of a changing climate,” the statement reads.
An investment of $74 million (K81.4 billion will focus on early grade literacy and will improve the delivery of high-quality early grade reading instruction in all of Malawi’s over 5,700 public primary schools nationwide.
The statement added that $46 million (K50.6 billion will support the government’s National Multi-Sector Nutrition Policy through a five-year initiative known as Improving Nutritional Let Them Grow Health (Tiwalere).
