Malawi

Numbers at a Glance

• Malawi ranks 171 out of 187 on the human development index.
• 6.7 million people, more than half the country’s population, live below the poverty line.
• 14% of reproductive age adults are infected with HIV/AIDS.
• 1 in 8 children die before the age of 5.
• Almost half of children under the age of 5 have stunted development.
• Maternal mortality is 984 deaths per 100,000.

Facts and Statistics

• Population: 13,603,181
• Population Growth Rate (annual %): 2.4
• National Poverty Rate (%): 65
• Life Expectancy at Birth (years): 43
• Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000 live births): 92
• Children Under-5 Mortality Rate (per 1,000 live births): 125
• Lifetime Risk of Maternal Mortality (1 in number stated): 7
• Adult Male Literacy Rate (% of males 15+): 76
• Adult Female Literacy Rate (% of females 15+): 50
• Population with access to an improved water source: 73

Sources: CIA World Factbook, World Bank, UNDP

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In Malawi since 1983, Save the Children works directly or through partners in over a dozen districts. We seek to ensure that children in need are protected, healthy and nourished, educated and live in economically secure households, while helping communities mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS. 

• Challenges for Children
• Health
• Early Childhood Development
• Basic Education
• Livelihoods
• HIV/AIDS

Challenges for Children

Poor children and caregivers in Malawi have limited access to services that can improve children’s health and nutrition. One child in eight dies before reaching age 5.  Malnutrition is widespread and nearly half of all children under 5 have stunted development. While Malawi is one of only a few African countries on track to reach the reduction in under-5 mortality set out in Millennium Development Goal 4, neonatal, infant and child mortality rates are still unacceptably high. Seven out of 10 child deaths in Malawi are due to preventable causes such as malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia, anemia, malnutrition and neonatal causes. Malaria and pneumonia alone account for nearly half of those deaths.

Malawi is thought to have nearly 500,000 children who have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS, and approximately 25,000 new pediatric HIV/AIDS infections are registered every year. Extended family members have been overwhelmed with new demands for support to these orphaned and vulnerable children, both economically and psychosocially.

Just over 80% of all children between ages 6 and 13 are enrolled in elementary school. Young people’s literacy has increased to 76% and women’s literacy is making gains. However, the quality of education remains poor. There is an acute shortage of teachers and physical infrastructure, and many children either do not graduate elementary school or repeat many classes. Causes of drop-out include the inability to purchase materials to attend school, the need for labor at home, and, particularly for girls, early pregnancy and marriage as well as fears about safety and security while at school.

Our Response

From 2008-2012, our four focus areas are maternal and newborn health, child health and nutrition, early childhood development and primary education. Ensuring food security for vulnerable households and protecting children from abuse will underlie all of these efforts.

Specifically, our programs in Malawi include the following areas:

Health

Early Childhood Development

Since 2001, Save the Children has helped communities care for orphans and young children. Community-based childcare centers run by volunteer caregivers provide an ideal entry point for reaching young children. We support the government’s efforts to improve the quality of early childhood development by training caregivers and by strengthening management committees. We also work to help communities recognize and address the psychosocial needs of particularly vulnerable children, especially orphans. We are also testing new approaches to strengthen services for children under age 2 and continue to replicate enrichment activities for children ages 3-6. Currently, we are assisting more than 200 community-based childcare centers, each with an average enrollment of 50-70 children. 

Basic Education

We increase children’s access to basic education, help children stay in school and enhance the quality of education. Save the Children supports the construction and renovation of schools to reduce overcrowded classrooms and increase children’s access. We also improve the quality of education by enhancing teachers’ professional skills and knowledge through a mentoring program. In addition, we promote children’s literacy — a key foundation for learning — by mobilizing schools and communities. There is special emphasis on reaching girls and other vulnerable groups in the school setting. 

Livelihoods

We seek to ensure that households have the incomes to meet the needs of children. Given that nearly 90 percent of the population is engaged in agriculture, our goal is to improve household income by helping families produce and market more crops. This includes technical assistance, seeds and the establishment of village savings and loan groups. Save the Children also plays a crucial role in providing technical support to the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee, a government-led structure that conducts national analyses on vulnerability to food insecurity, poverty and malnutrition. 

HIV and AIDS

Our programs help children and families affected by HIV/AIDS obtain community-based care that prolongs and improves their quality of life. We minimize the impact of HIV/AIDS on orphans and other vulnerable children by bringing together communities to address food, livelihoods and other needs of AIDS-affected households and preventing new infections through behavior changes. 

Last Updated on May 2012