By Precious Kadwala, Nsanje
There is hope that the livelihoods of communities in villages under Traditional Authority Mbenje in Nsanje District will improve following cash disbursements under the Evangelical Association of Malawi(EAM)’s Anticipatory Action Project.
For Stemele John, an elderly woman from Machado Village, the K181,000 she has received this month is more than just cash, but hope for her family.
Stemele, who looks after her orphaned granddaughter, said the support has come at a critical time when many households are struggling to meet basic needs amid fears of possible dry spells.
“This money will really help us. I am taking care of my granddaughter, and with this support, I can buy food and other essentials for our home,” she said.
Stemele is one of 1,134 households benefiting from multipurpose cash transfers rolled out by the EAM under the Anticipatory Action Project in the area.
Another beneficiary, Makingson Simoko, said the cash transfer will allow him to focus more on sorghum farming, a livelihood he is pursuing with support from the same organisation.
“With this money, I can concentrate on my sorghum farm, which EAM has been supporting, and I do not have to worry too much about immediate household needs while I work on my farm,” he said.
EAM District Coordinator for Nsanje, Enerst Phillimon, confirmed to #MBCDigital that each selected household is receiving K181,000 per month for two months: January and February, 2026.
“In total, we will disburse about K410 million and we expect beneficiaries to use the cash to meet their urgent needs because, according to MET forecasts, this area may experience dry spells, hence this early intervention,” said Phillimon.
The project aims to help vulnerable communities prepare for climate-related shocks before they worsen, reducing the need for emergency responses.
The initiative is being implemented by EAM with financial support from NORAD and the Germany government, channelled through the World Food Programme.
