The United States Agency for International Development (Usaid) has granted Malawi $158 million (about K159 billion) additional support to strengthen governance, economic growth, nutrition and literacy.

The visiting Usaid administrator, Samantha Power, announced the package yesterday after holding a meeting with President Lazarus Chakwera at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.

She hoped that the funds, to be spread out in five years, will impact people’s livelihoods amid the country’s economic challenges and soaring food prices.

Power and Chakwera shake hands after unveiling the package

In a statement issued afterwards, Usaid said it will invest $11.7 million (around K13 billion) towards helping Parliament strengthen its legislative, oversight and representative functions.

The investment will be through Usaid new five-year Strengthening Parliament’s Role in Malawi’s Development project.

“It [the project] will leverage the full expertise of Malawi’s public service by facilitating stronger coordination between Parliament and statutory oversight institutions to better combat corruption and further empower civil society and media to demand accountability,” the statement said.

Usaid further said it plans to “award a $15 million (K16.5 billion) five-year project, subject to appropriations, to strengthen local governance based on the principle decisions about sustainable socioeconomic development…”

Further, the agency has said it will inject $35 million (K38.5 billion) into the country’s economic recovery through a five-year initiative.

“The project will focus on empowering women and youth, expanding agricultural commercialisation, increasing household and community resilience, and addressing the impacts from a changing climate,” the statement reads.

An investment of $74 million (K81.4 billion will focus on early grade literacy and “will improve the delivery of high-quality early grade reading instruction in all of Malawi’s over 5,700 public primary schools nationwide”.

According to the statement, $46 million (K50.6 billion will support government’s National Multi-Sector Nutrition Policy.

Writing on his Facebook page yesterday, Chakwera said he was pleased with the support which he attributed to a range of engagements.

He said: “The support comes as a result of various engagements our administration has had with Usaid, including the one I held in Washington DC with administrator Samantha Power four months ago.

“Our dialogue with Ms. Power today at Kamuzu Palace was both to receive the good news and get reaffirmation from the agency of its continued support towards attainment of sustainable livelihoods for everyone.

“I am also delighted to learn that the Usaid economic support package will complement another upcoming US Government initiative, the Millennium Challenge Account, whose compact aims at reducing poverty through economic growth.”

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