Malawi

Malawi is a landlocked country in southern East Africa, bordered by Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania. There are over 40 different ethnic groups living in Malawi. Chewa is the official language, while English has a semi-official status.

Malawi’s people and economy are still suffering the ongoing effects of severe drought and famine, which in 2002 led to the worst food shortages the country had seen for 50 years.

Severe malnutrition, which increases the risk of contracting many infectious diseases, has had a particular effect on the most vulnerable members of communities, notably women and children. Plan’s work with communities and nutritional rehabilitation and educational programmes are continuing to address these problems.

Agricultural activity, forming 37% of the economy, has also suffered due to the increase in the HIV epidemic, with an estimated 15.6% of all adults HIV positive. In 2004 the government responded to the AIDS crisis with the launch of an official programme, which provides free drugs to sufferers but the impact of the disease has left nearly 500,000 children orphaned and 83,000 infected.

Some of the reasons why Plan works in Malawi

• 1 in every 5 children dies before reaching the age of five
• Almost half of children under five suffer from stunted growth due to poor nutrition
• A quarter of children do not attend primary school
• 40% of the population do not have access to an adequate water source