Germany grants EUR 5 million for scaling up nutrition interventions in Malawi

LILONGWE, 12 October 2023 – The German Government has provided EUR 5 million (about MWK 6.3 billion) to Malawi to scale up interventions addressing malnutrition in five targeted districts. This is Germany’s additional funding towards the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) programme that Malawi has been implementing since 2011, bringing the overall German government’s contribution towards the programme to 44.55 million euros since 2016.

The German Government, through KfW, is collaborating with the Ministry of Health to implement high-impact nutrition interventions to reduce undernutrition in Phalombe, Nsanje, Blantyre, Dowa and Lilongwe up to December 2024.

Under the programme, the Ministry of Health, with technical support from UNICEF, implements 13 high-impact nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions through the SUN Nutrition Education Communication Strategy -II (SUN-NECS-II). Some of the activities include promotion of optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding for infants, and strengthening of the nutrition policy environment and governance structures.

Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo-Chiponda said the support comes at a time when Malawi is dealing with a challenging food security situation and 4.4 million people are expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity between October 2023 and March 2024.

“The Government of Germany has supported Malawi to effectively respond to stunting, which is compromising the country’s socio-economic development. This additional assistance will enable us to step up efforts to improve livelihoods and build resilience among the communities and households to promote optimal nutrition among our children, adolescents, women, and other vulnerable groups,” said Kandodo-Chiponda.

German Ambassador to Malawi, Her Excellency Ute König, said the grant will also protect hard-won nutrition gains Malawi has achieved under the SUN programme that addresses the needs of the most vulnerable people, especially children.

“No matter what, everyone deserves the opportunity to have a balanced and healthy diet. This support aligns with our goals of building resilience in food and nutrition security for everyone worldwide,” said König.

UNICEF Representative Shadrack Omol commended the German Government for the timely support he said will help sustain progress in protecting children from malnutrition and enhancing Malawi’s human capital.

“To overcome undernutrition, we need to start early. Evidence shows that proper nutrition during the first 1000 days between a woman's pregnancy and her child's second birthday gives children a healthy start in life. Improving nutrition is, therefore, a precondition to reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combating diseases, and eradicating poverty and hunger,” said Omol.

With the SUN programme, Malawi has made significant strides in eradicating undernutrition over the past years, reducing stunting among under-five children from 37 per cent in 2016 to the current 33 per cent, according to the Integrated Household Survey of 2020. Vitamin A deficiency in children has also reduced from 22 per cent to 4 per cent during the same period, while acute undernutrition in children is low at 2.5 per cent.

This progress has been achieved through multiple nutrition interventions which improved breastfeeding and diets for children; and protected them from common illnesses. The interventions have also enhanced early childhood development; and promoted women’s health and nutrition, and sanitation and hygiene.