Presbyterian World Service & Development (PWS&D) and Churches Action in Relief in Development (CARD) are partnering on a food assistance project in Mulanje, Malawi.
Malawi’s southern region faces severe food insecurity, with 11 administrative units currently at IPC Phase 3 (crisis). This figure is projected to rise to 20 units by March 2026. Frequent climate-related shocks, including El Niño-induced dry spells and erratic rainfall, have caused national maize harvests to fall 22% below the five-year average, leaving over 4 million people requiring urgent assistance.
Mulanje is among the three worst-affected districts. Maize production has plummeted to just 25-35% of average levels due to poor rainfall and Cyclones Chido and Jude. Compounding the crisis, Cassava Brown Streak Disease has destroyed nearly 5,000 hectares of the district’s secondary staple crop.
Consequently, 30% of Mulanje’s population (234,552 people) faces a critical food gap. Families are now resorting to negative coping mechanisms, such as selling household assets and skipping meals, while women face heightened risks of abuse and economic exploitation.
Current response efforts are insufficient to meet the scale of the crisis. While the WFP provided a limited two-month maize supply, a significant humanitarian gap remains. In Mulanje specifically, there are currently no formal government or NGO plans to address the deepening deficit.
The project will provide two monthly-cash transfers of $150 CAD per household, so that they may purchase food locally. The project aims to reach 6,375 individuals from 1,275 households.