USAID Assistance to Malawi

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
FACT SHEET

WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov
(202) 712-4320

2002-058

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 27, 2002

Budget	FY 2000	FY 2001	FY 2002 (est.)	FY 2003 (request)
Development Assistance	$19.0 million	$13.2 million	$13.0 million	$30.9 million
Child Survival	$11.9 million	$14.9 million	$15.6 million	$ 0 million
P.L. 480 Title II	$ 4.0 million	$ 1.8 million	$ 4.1 million	$ 6.3 million
Total	$34.9 million	$29.9 million	$32.7 million	$37.2 million

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) program in Malawi are to reduce poverty and increase food security through broad-based, market-led economic growth. USAID focuses on activities that strengthen the policies and institutions (public, private and non-governmental) that address Malawi's fundamental economic and social problems as well as emphasizing decentralized, communal cooperation.

PROGRAM AREAS

Sustainable Increases in Rural Incomes: USAID supports this objective by optimizing small farmers' agricultural productivity and diversification, improving the environment for private sector productivity, and increasing revenues earned from natural resource management. USAID acts as a catalyst to invigorate the economy by building upon past successes in agriculture and natural resources management as well as embracing the potential for expanding private sector employment. This program aims to create a wide range of options for increasing household incomes, enable consumers to purchase goods at affordable prices, and generate demand for goods and services.

Increased Civic Involvement in the Rule of Law: USAID supports efforts to increase Malawians' involvement in the country's system of democratic governance. Activities focus on increasing awareness of legal and human rights, improving access to justice and increasing the responsiveness and accountability of institutions to citizens. While USAID's Rule of Law Program targets all Malawians, women will benefit especially since they tend to have the least knowledge about and access to the democratic political system.

Reduce Fertility and Risk of HIV/AIDS and Improve Child Health: USAID activities focus on three challenges to the improved health of Malawians: lowering the risk of HIV/AIDS because of the epidemic's tremendous impact on human resources and productivity; reducing fertility and population growth, which are essential for attaining broad-based economic growth; and lowering infant and child mortality rates, which if left unchecked will continue to foster high fertility rates as parents try to compensate for under-five mortality. This program is designed to work at the community level, and promotes community mobilization as a means to improved health status through the improvement of accessibility and quality of key health services.

Improved Quality and Efficiency of Basic Education: USAID's goal in the education sector is to assist the government as it implements its Policy Investment Framework to improve access, quality and efficiency in the education system. This is achieved through support for policy reform in the education sector, teacher training, institutional capacity building and strengthening, and community participation in school management.

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