The African Development Fund (ADF) has approved a US$8.49 million grant (around K14.7 billion) to help Malawi restore irrigation infrastructure destroyed by Cyclone Freddy and strengthen communities against future climate-related disasters.
The funding, endorsed by the Board of Governors of the African Development Bank Group, will be channelled through the ADF’s Climate Action Window and will target Phalombe and Thyolo districts, which were among the worst affected by Cyclone Freddy in 2023.
Cyclone Freddy devastated more than 50,000 hectares of farmland and damaged over 60 irrigation schemes across southern Malawi. Many communities are still struggling to recover three years on.
The new project, Enhancing Climate-Adapted Agricultural Productivity through Improved Water Management (CAWMA), will run from June 2026 to September 2031. It forms part of a wider programme valued at US$14.41 million (MK25 billion).
Three damaged irrigation schemes covering 180 hectares will be fully rehabilitated and upgraded to withstand future climate shocks. The initiative is expected to boost smallholder crop yields by 35–40 per cent and help households earn more than US$1,000 (K1.7 million) annually once fully operational.
Around 28,000 farmers will be trained in climate-smart agriculture, while 650 hectares of degraded catchment land will be restored through nature-based conservation measures.
African Development Bank Country Manager for Malawi, Macmillan Anyanwu, said the intervention was about more than reconstruction.
“We are rebuilding infrastructure that can withstand the next cyclone while equipping farmers with the skills, farm inputs and market access opportunities they need to thrive long after the project ends,” said Anyanwu
The programme will prioritise inclusive development, with women and young people among the main beneficiaries. At least 40 per cent of direct participants will be women, with female-headed households given priority.
Neeraj Vij, Regional Sector Manager for Southern Africa, said the project would ensure vulnerable groups share in the benefits of resilience-building efforts.
Implementation will be led by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, working with the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the United Nations Office for Project Services and the Government of Malawi.
Beyond direct beneficiaries, the project is expected to indirectly improve the livelihoods of more than 10,000 additional households through increased commercial agricultural production, improved water management and enhanced sanitation services in the targeted irrigation schemes.
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