We Effect Partners with FUM to Implement ‘Nourishing Futures’ Project in Dowa

We Effect, a Swedish international development organization, in collaboration with the Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) and with funding from the European Union (EU), is implementing the Nourishing Futures: Empowering Malawi’s Civil Society Organizations for Sustainable Nutrition project in Dowa District.

The initiative aims to empower local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and CSO networks to actively participate in establishing sustainable and nutritious food systems in Malawi. This aligns with the EU’s broader objective of supporting CSOs as independent actors in the governance and development of responsible and sustainable food systems.

“This project is a timely intervention that seeks to empower local voices in addressing nutrition challenges through sustainable food systems,” said Olivia Mpulula, Nutrition Project Officer at We Effect.

Spanning 60 months and with a total budget of approximately 1.58 million Euros, the project focuses on strengthening the capacity of local CSOs and their networks to advocate for increased demand for food fortification and to ensure the availability of fortified foods.

Although the Malawian government has made efforts in food fortification, enforcement mechanisms remain weak. There has also been limited support for infant food fortification and nutrition governance, particularly in building CSO capacity to engage in technical discussions.

Mpulula emphasized that the project is aligned with Malawi’s national development priorities, including Enabler 5 (Health and Nutrition) of Malawi Vision 2063. “The project supports national frameworks such as the Multi-Sector Nutrition Policy and the National Micronutrient Strategy,” she said. “It is an advocacy-focused initiative that will build the technical capacity of local CSOs and media to hold duty-bearers accountable and champion nutrition governance.”

She added, “We want to see civil society playing a more proactive role in influencing policy and ensuring that nutrition remains a key agenda in development discussions.”

In his remarks, Acting Chief Planning Officer for Dowa District Council, Yusuf Laki, commended the project and called for collaboration among stakeholders. “We welcome this initiative and encourage all partners involved in nutrition-related interventions to support it,” he said. “The goals are in line with our district’s development plans.”

Laki further recommended formal partnerships for better coordination. “We advise We Effect to sign Memorandums of Understanding with the council and the CSO Network. This will promote transparency, accountability, and ensure we are working together toward shared outcomes,” he added.

We Effect is confident that through this collaborative effort, the Nourishing Futures project will contribute significantly to the development of resilient, inclusive, and nutrition-sensitive food systems in Malawi.