France Supports Hunger Alleviation Drive In Malawi

By Joseph Dumbula

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has announced that France has unveiled a historic EUR 500,000 (MWK 623 million) package to assist the Southern African nation deal with prevailing hunger.

The funds will be used to provide home-grown school meals for children and food assistance to refugees in Malawi. This brings France’s contribution to WFP in Malawi to EUR 1 million in 2023 (MWK 1.2 billion).

“France is pleased to further its partnership with WFP and the Government of Malawi in responding to children’s nutrition needs. The home-grown school feeding model increases access to education while enhancing business opportunities for farmers,’’ said French Ambassador David Martinon.

Malawi is approaching the peak of the lean season and food insecurity is expected to worsen from now up to March.

The contribution from France will be used to provide daily school meals to 18,000 school children across 17 primary schools and a market for approximately 600 local smallholder farmers who will supply fresh food to the schools. Additionally, 50,000 refugees will receive food assistance.

WFP provides daily school meals to over 675,000 children across 500 schools in rural communities as well as monthly food assistance to 50,000 refugees in the Dzaleka Refugee Camp.