The Government of Japan has committed approximately $2.0 million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Malawi through the Japanese Supplementary Budget (JSB). With support from the Government of Japan, UNDP will implement two projects in 2023 to assist Malawi’s efforts in promoting Peace, Socio-Economic Empowerment and Climate Change.

1. Promoting Peace and Socio-Economic Empowerment through National Peace Architecture and Sustainable Livelihoods

UNDP will receive $1.0 million to strengthen national and district coordination mechanisms in peacebuilding and conflict prevention in Thyolo and Nsanje. In collaboration with the Government of Malawi, UNDP will support the Ministry of National Unity to expand the establishment and improve the operational capacity of the District Peace and Unity Committees (DPUCs) in Thyolo and Nsanje, as well as their related community-level mechanisms. UNDP will collaborate with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to expand livelihood opportunities for vulnerable households by promoting market-oriented agriculture to increase the income of smallholder farmers through the provision of training and agricultural supply. The planned project will facilitate the implementation of the National Peace Policy and Malawi Peace and Unity Act to establish a National Peace Architecture in Malawi.

2. Transformation of Agriculture through building Resilience and Harnessing Green Opportunities (TARGO)

UNDP will receive a contribution of $ 1.09 million from Japan to support Malawi’s implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) by building community resilience through climate adaptation and implementing mitigation actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions for a green economy. The project will address food insecurity in Malawi in the short term and contribute to Malawi achieving its NDC goals and targets by increasing access to clean energy and enhancing the capability to improve agricultural productivity. This will be done by introducing large-scale solar irrigation, building the capacity of women and youth in agricultural value chain additions, and providing energy access to community and trading centers to promote agriculture-related enterprises. UNDP will implement the one-year project in collaboration with the Environmental Affairs Department (EAD) within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change and the district councils with the collaboration of the Ministry of Energy.

“UNDP works closely with the Government of Malawi and other partners to contribute to Malawi’s peace and stability, as well as management building resilience to climate change. The projects aim to respond to the humanitarian crisis caused by the sharp rise of energy and food prices and the cost of living due to the war between Russia and Ukraine through the enhancement of access to clean energy and the capability to improve agricultural productivity.  With generous support from the Government of Japan, UNDP will support the most vulnerable households who suffer from socio-economic and climate change impacts in Malawi to leverage human security at the grassroots level”, said UNDP Resident Representative Shigeki Komatsubara.

On behalf of the Government of Japan, Mr. Seiji Tashiro, Chargés d'Affaires ad interim at the Embassy of Japan in Malawi, said “The Government of Japan is pleased to announce its cooperation with UNDP, our longstanding partner in Malawi, to help bring more smiles to the Malawian people. As one of the active contributors to enhance human security, Japan hopes that the two projects will provide immediate and appropriate support to the people of Malawi.”

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For further information please contact; UNDP Communications: comms.support.mw@undp.org.