For 82-year-old Agnes Makowa of Biseki Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Nankumba, Mangochi, the threat of hunger that once loomed over her family has eased—thanks to a cash transfer from the World Food Programme (WFP).
“This support is timely and a bailout from the misfortunes of drought,” said a visibly excited Makowa as she received the cash from Mangochi District Commissioner (DC) Rodney Simwaka, who visited the area to witness the disbursement.
“I will buy food to feed my family and set aside some money to buy a goat and start goat farming,” she said.
“I will also plant cassava cuttings because they survive drought. I don’t want to be a victim of hunger again,” committed the granny.
Like Makowa, Chipiliro Mphembedzu from Kansiya Village in the same area has also found relief through WFP’s intervention.
“I did not harvest enough last year because of drought,” he explained.
Mphembedzu said he plans to use the money to start small-scale businesses in fish trading, cassava, and legumes to support his family.
“Our main problem here is drought. The dry spells reduce our harvests more than expected, so we are always affected,” he said.
Makowa and Mphembedzu are among 2 426 households in Senior Chief Nankumba’s area benefiting from WFP’s Anticipatory Action Activation Programme.
Funded by the governments of Norway and Germany, the initiative provides K181 000 per household in January and February 2026. The support cushions families against forecasted dry spells expected between January and March, as projected by Malawi’s Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS).
The programme goes beyond cash assistance. Beneficiaries also receive early warning messages, agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilizer, and guidance on effective use of resources.
By combining immediate relief with preparation for future droughts, the initiative aligns with Malawi’s national food security and resilience goals, while contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Speaking at the Nankumba Extension Planning Area (EPA) during the cash disbursement, DC Simwaka urged residents to make full use of the fertile land surrounding them to increase agricultural production.
He also encouraged communities to plant drought-tolerant crops, describing this as one of the key responses to changing weather patterns.
“This area has rich alluvial soils that are ideal for agriculture. While the government and WFP are responding to anticipated dry spells, households must plan to use their land and water resources wisely to withstand future droughts,” he said.
Simwaka further encouraged beneficiaries to consider irrigation farming as a long-term solution.
“Cash transfers are helpful, but investing in irrigation and productive land use ensures families can better cope with future droughts,” he said.
“This intervention empowers households to buy food, protect assets, and invest in village savings groups or small businesses—strengthening resilience and securing livelihoods,” he added.
For Makowa, the support represents a chance to rebuild.
“I want to ensure my family never faces hunger like before,” she said.
Mphembedzu is equally optimistic.
“This money is a redeemer to our souls. It gives us hope that even when the rains fail, we can survive, provide for our families, and plan for the future,” he said.
Mangochi’s forecasted dry spells threaten both crops and livestock, making anticipatory action critical.
WFP’s intervention ensures that vulnerable households are not merely surviving, but actively planning for resilience. Families now have the means to invest in productive activities, plant drought-tolerant crops, and secure livestock—turning vulnerability into opportunity.
Beyond immediate household support, the programme builds on DCCMS’s use of the PRISm tool to generate drought alerts, ongoing updates to the Unified Beneficiary Registry, and Department of Disaster Affairs Management’s role in coordinating national and district-level preparedness.
As the sun sets over Nankumba, the fields may appear parched, but hope now grows alongside every cassava cutting, every goat, and every small business venture.
With WFP’s support and their own determination, families are learning that even in harsh conditions, survival and growth are possible. Makowa, Mphembedzu, and thousands of others benefiting from the programme show that with foresight, resilience, and support, the challenges of drought can be met with hope, opportunity, and dignity.
