Poverty remains the main descriptor of Malawi’s development status. According to a 2023 report by the World Bank, Malawi is the fourth poorest nation and 70 percent of the population in Malawi lives on less than $2.15 a day. The number of poor people has increased by 3 million and, as of 2023, reached to a total of 13 million. According to the United Nations Economic and Social Council, poverty is higher in rural areas (70%) than in urban areas (25.7%).
The status of poverty in Malawi makes it imperative for development initiatives or interventions which aim to reduce poverty. These types of interventions have been and still continue to be at the core of Ungweru Organization’s purpose of existence. With the organization’s target communities being those who are “further behind the furthest”, Ungweru ensures that those who live in rural areas are given inputs to enable their transitioning out of poverty.
One of these areas which Ungweru Organisation implements such development interventions is Doroba, a community found in Mzimba, in the northern region of Malawi. In this community, Ungweru implements a project titled “Market Based Solutions for transitioning out poverty”. This project is agriculturally based and provides farmers with inputs such as high value seeds, trainings and irrigations systems, among others, which enable farmers to venture into agriculture of which harvests derived from their agricultural venture improves their nutrition and food security, and most importantly their access to income. This enhances their livelihood and on overall basis reduces their poverty.
Finitas Singini, is one of the project participants whose livelihood is set to improve courtesy of the project Ungweru is implementing in Doroba. She received NUA 45 bean seeds on 9 January, 2025 which she planted the following day. According to Finitas, the sales which she will make from the bean harvest will greatly improve her livelihood.
“The bean crop which I planted courtesy of Ungweru Organisation will help my family a lot. Sales from the harvest will enable me to pay school fees for my children, build my house and help my family go the hospital when one gets sick. The harvest will also provide us food”, said Finitas.
The development intervention being implemented at Doroba in Mzimba, the northern region of Malawi.