The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved emergency financing of about US$1 million (roughly 1.7 billion kwacha) to support Malawi’s response to a deepening food crisis, the government said on Tuesday.
Malawi’s Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation signed the financing agreement with the AfDB in Lilongwe, as the southern African country grapples with rising food insecurity driven by erratic weather, high food prices and shrinking household reserves.
Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamvekha and AfDB Country Director for Malawi MacMillan Anyawu signed the agreement, which the government said would help strengthen relief efforts targeting the most vulnerable communities.
Malawi has faced repeated climate-related shocks in recent years, including droughts and floods that have disrupted agricultural production in a country where the majority of households depend on rain-fed farming. Poor harvests, combined with inflationary pressures and reduced purchasing power, have pushed millions of people into food stress, according to government and humanitarian assessments.
The AfDB funding is intended to provide rapid support to government-led interventions aimed at cushioning households facing acute food shortages. Officials said the resources would help improve access to food and stabilise livelihoods as authorities scale up emergency assistance.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Anyawu said the bank was responding to urgent humanitarian needs and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Malawi during the crisis.
“The African Development Bank recognises the seriousness of the food insecurity challenges Malawi is facing and remains committed to supporting measures that protect vulnerable households and help stabilise livelihoods,” he said.
The government has been working with development partners to mobilise emergency financing while also pursuing longer-term measures to strengthen food systems and climate resilience. Authorities say erratic rainfall patterns linked to climate change have increased the frequency and severity of food shocks, underscoring the need for both immediate relief and sustained investment in agriculture, irrigation and social protection.
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While the latest AfDB support is modest in size, officials described it as timely, allowing the government to respond more quickly to pressing needs in affected areas. The funding adds to a broader package of assistance Malawi has sought from multilateral lenders and donors as it works to manage the humanitarian impact of the food crisis alongside wider economic pressures.
Malawi, one of the world’s poorest countries, has repeatedly appealed for international support in recent years as climate shocks, currency weakness and high global food and fertiliser prices have strained public finances and household welfare.
