By Sheminah Nkhoma

Lilongwe, April 29, Mana: Civil Society Agriculture Network (CISANET) says the provision of US$57.6 million from the World Bank to the government of Malawi holds immense potential to alleviate the suffering of Malawians severely affected by the ongoing food crisis.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) CISANET Board Chairperson, Herbert Chagona, highlighted that Malawi has faced a lot of challenges as such the support will help the country deal with food shortage.

“As CISANET we advocate for prioritizing the allocation of the majority of these funds directly to provide support to those mostly affected by food crisis. This includes ensuring that the funds are directed towards essential needs such as food aid, agricultural support and infrastructure for resilience building initiatives,” said Chagona.

He said Malawi must move beyond short term solutions and work towards implementing lasting measures to address food insecurity.

He, therefore, pleaded for transparency and accountability as a mechanism that must be established to track disbursement and utilization of the funds so that it reaches the intended beneficiaries.

“While we appreciate World Bank's support, we emphasize the importance of transparency and accountability on utilization of the funds, prioritizing support for those in need and implementing long term solutions to address food insecurity in Malawi.

In a press statement dated April 26, 2024, World Bank will provide US$57.6 million as immediate support for millions of Malawians severely affected by the ongoing food security crisis.

This comes after President Dr Lazarus Chakwera declared state of disaster on March 23, 2024 in 23 districts in the country.