By Willy Kadewere

Chikwawa, July 14, Mana: Communities in Chikwawa District are optimistic that the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) would improve their economic well-being.

This was disclosed on Saturday during a Media tour organized by Chikwawa District Council.

Speaking with Malawi News Agency (Mana), Foreman for Lamya Catchment, Gift Njobvu expressed satisfaction with the programme, saying most of the participants have benefitted economically from the programme.

He said through various sub projects in the programme, participants earn money in the form of wages (K1, 600 per day) paid after completing a cycle of 24 days and the money they receive is used to support their families in various ways.

“We are happy with the CS-EPWP. Through the wages, we are able to buy food, feed our families, buy clothes and also buy farm inputs like fertilizer,” Njobvu said.

Another participant, Felesia Chithumba from Group Village Head (GVH), Mwiza said from the wages of the CS-EPWP, she was able to support her family paying school fees for her children and use the money for buying food.

“I’m happy that while working to restore the environment, the CS-EPWP is helping us economically. From what we get after working, we are able to support our lives, families and friends,” she said.

Chikwawa District Council Desk Officer for the CS-EPWP, Ackim Dickson said Chikwawa has 27, 943 people participating in various interventions of the agroforestry, natural tree regeneration, contour ridging, swalley construction, dip trench construction and river bank conservation.

CS-EPWP is a component under the Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Programme funded by the World Bank and the Social Protection Multi-Donor Trust Fund.