Protecting against poverty and vulnerability in Malawi

Levels of poverty and vulnerability in Malawi are very high. And many poor people are vulnerable to falling deeper into poverty. A key reason is inability to cope with increasing exposure to sudden and unexpected changes (shocks). What types of social protection measures could prevent people falling deeper into poverty?

Research from the Institute of Development Studies, UK, and the University of Malawi examines the nature of vulnerability to chronic poverty and malnutrition in Malawi. The research also analyses the effectiveness of the various social protection measures that have been introduced, and draws on lessons from experiences in other countries.

Most people in Malawi live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. But agriculture is a source of poverty and vulnerability. Many farming families lack the productive assets (land, livestock and labour) and farming inputs (fertiliser and seeds) to help them cope with shocks such as the erratic rainfall which increases the risk of droughts and floods.

There are limited alternative sources of income in rural areas, yet few people move to the towns and cities to look for work. Rural families are therefore overly-reliant on farming for their livelihoods. Another problem is weak markets, especially in the more remote areas. This restricts access to farming inputs and exposes poor people to excessive food price fluctuations.

Many people are also affected by shocks such as accidents, illness or death of a family member. HIV/AIDS is having a devastating impact. Other factors contributing to increasing vulnerability in Malawi include: severe discrimination against women and girls, the breakdown of social support systems and rising crime and insecurity.

Key findings of the research include:

• Over one quarter of Malawians live close to the poverty line (within 20 percent).
• People living in southern and central Malawi are generally worse off.
• Female- and older-headed households, and households that care for orphans, are particularly vulnerable to poverty.
• The distribution of free fertiliser and seeds to farmers has had positive impacts on food production and prices and so reduced vulnerability.
• Other social protection measures – including public works programmes, social funds and food aid – have had a limited impact on vulnerability.
• Unconditional cash transfers (pensions, disability grants, child support grants) are gaining popularity in Africa.

Social protection and livelihood promotion measures could help to reduce poverty and vulnerability in Malawi. But current interventions by government and non-government organisations are uncoordinated, patchy and poorly targeted.

The implications of the research include:

• Social protection policy in Malawi needs to be made coherent and interventions should be carefully targeted to meet the needs of specific groups.
• Policies that stabilise prices and keep food affordable should be prioritised.
• Social insurance mechanisms, such as weather insurance and employment guarantee schemes, would help to protect poor households against shocks.
• Policies that promote rural livelihoods (high value crops, rural non-farm employment) should be explored. 
• Social protection and livelihood promotion measures need to be accompanied by broader changes to tackle problems such as weak markets and discrimination against women.

Source(s):
‘Vulnerability and Social Protection in Malawi’, IDS Discussion Paper 387, IDS: Brighton, by Stephen Devereux, Bob Baulch, Ian Macauslan, Alexander Phiri and Rachel Sabates-Wheeler, 2007 (PDF) Full document.

Funded by: UK Department for International Development

id21 Research Highlight: 9 October 2007

Further Information:
Stephen Devereux
Institute of Development Studies
University of Sussex
Brighton BN1 9RE, UK

Tel: +44 (0)1273 678773
Fax: +44 (0)1273 621202
Contact the contributor: s.devereux@ids.ac.uk

Institute of Development Studies, UK

Bob Baulch
Institute of Development Studies
University of Sussex
Brighton BN1 9RE, UK

Tel: +44 (0)1273 678774
Fax: +44 (0)1273 621202
Contact the contributor: r.j.baulch@ids.ac.uk

Institute of Development Studies, UK

Ian Macauslan

Tel:  
Fax:  
Contact the contributor: I.Macauslan@ids.ac.uk

Institute of Development Studies, UK