Latest news with #ElNiño-induced
Zawya
04-04-2025
- General
- Zawya
United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Italy partner to expand home-grown school feeding and resilience interventions in Malawi
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes a contribution of €4 million from the Government of Italy to expand the Home-Grown School Feeding programme and support climate-smart agriculture and sustainable school meals by connecting schools with local farmers in Malawi's Chikwawa District. The funding will enable WFP to provide daily nutritious meals to 20,800 children in seventeen primary schools across Chikwawa and supports the national school feeding programme reaching over 800,000 children across Malawi. By sourcing ingredients locally, the initiative creates stable market opportunities for smallholder farmers - especially women - helping them increase production and income, while directly contributing to children's well-being. WFP Malawi Country Director ad interim, Simon Denhere, said the support from the Government of Italy will drive lasting impact by integrating food security, education, and livelihoods. 'This initiative goes beyond school meals; it strengthens entire communities. By linking smallholder farmers to schools and equipping them with resilience practices, we are improving children's nutrition while helping communities recover from weather related shocks and to prepare for the future,' said Denhere. "This partnership is a game-changer for Malawi, linking nutritious school meals to improved attendance and academic success, while empowering local farmers and enhancing community food security," said Maureen Maguza Tembo, Deputy Director of School Health, Nutrition and HIV/AIDS in the Ministry of Education. Beyond school feeding, the initiative strengthens smallholder farmers' resilience by improving access to weather resistant crops, promoting sustainable farming techniques, and expanding irrigation and financial services. These efforts help farming communities increase productivity and better withstand shocks. The Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Education, WFP, and Save the Children will jointly implement the project in Chikwawa District, with Save the Children and the District Council leading field interventions. "Investing in school feeding and agriculture lays the foundation for lasting benefits for children, farmers, and the broader economy, fostering self-reliance and stability," said H.E. Enrico de Agostini, Ambassador of Italy to Malawi and Zambia. Malawi continues to experience climate shocks, including the recent El Niño-induced drought, making recovery efforts essential for families and communities. 'Smallholder farmers are the backbone of our agricultural sector, yet they face numerous challenges, including limited access to markets, inputs, and climate-related shocks,' said Geoffrey Mamba, Principal Secretary responsible for Irrigation in the Ministry of Agriculture. 'This initiative will enhance smallholder farmers' productivity and market access, particularly for women farmers, by integrating them into the school feeding system.' The contribution was announced today by representatives from the Government of Italy, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Education. Since 1999, WFP has supported school feeding in Malawi, currently reaching approximately 837,500 children across 778 schools. In addition to school feeding, WFP implements resilience-building projects in four districts in southern Malawi, targeting 57,914 households with initiatives that strengthen livelihoods, enhance agricultural productivity, and help communities withstand climate-related shocks. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Copperbelt to invest $500m in solar power and transmission line upgrades
Zambia-based Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) plans to invest $500m up to 2026 to boost solar power generation and increase the capacity of its power transmission line link to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as reported by Reuters. The power infrastructure solutions provider operates the only line connecting the DRC to the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). CEC plans to strengthen the power transmission line between Zambia and Congo, increasing its capacity from 250MW to 550MW. CEC chief financial officer Mutale Mukuka stated the company's intention to attract investors to finance the projects as Zambia recovers from a four-year sovereign debt default. "We're looking to invest around $500m over the next two years and most of this financing will come from third-party financiers," Mukuka told Reuters. He emphasised the company's commitment to investing "quite heavily in transmission projects to make sure that power from [new projects] can reach consumers." Interest in Zambia's energy projects has been renewed following the country's recovery from a sovereign default and an El Niño-induced drought that severely impacted power generation. Despite the challenges posed by the drought, CEC reported revenue growth of more than 240% in 2024, reaching $8.66m compared to $2.53m in 2023, along with an EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation] increase of 228%. The company commissioned the 60MW Itimpi Phase 1 solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in April 2024. It produced 95.3 gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable energy during the year, contributing to the mitigation of power shortages in Zambia and the wider region. CEC's board of directors approved a 136MW expansion of the Itimpi solar PV project to maintain growth and reach a generation capacity of 200MW by 2025. This expansion will boost CEC Renewables' total capacity to 230MW. The company has also secured $96.72m through the issuance of its second Green Bond for this development. Combined with the first tranche, the total raised under the company's $200m medium-term note programme has reached $150.27m. In July 2024, ProMarks and Trafigura signed a preliminary agreement with the Angolan government to develop a power transmission project to transfer surplus green electricity from northern Angola's hydroelectric dams to the DRC's Copperbelt province and Zambia. "Copperbelt to invest $500m in solar power and transmission line upgrades" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Reuters
24-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Zambia's CEC to invest $500 million in power projects to increase transmission
LUSAKA, March 24 (Reuters) - Zambia's Copperbelt Energy Corp. ( opens new tab will invest $500 million over the next two years to increase its solar power output and double the capacity of a power transmission line to Democratic Republic of Congo, a senior company official said on Monday. Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) owns the sole power transmission line between Congo and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). The Reuters Power Up newsletter provides everything you need to know about the global energy industry. Sign up here. Chief Financial Officer Mutale Mukuka said CEC wanted to attract investors to finance the projects as the country emerges from a four-year sovereign debt default. "We're looking to invest around $500 million over the next two years and most of this financing will come from third party financiers," Mukuka told Reuters. "We'll invest quite heavily in transmission projects to make sure that power from (new projects) can reach consumers," he said. Developers are showing interest again in Zambia's energy projects after the country emerged from a sovereign default and following an El Niño-induced drought which wiped out 70% of power generation. CEC also plans to bolster the power transmission line between Zambia and Congo to 550 megawatts (MW) from 250 MW currently.
Zawya
11-03-2025
- General
- Zawya
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Iceland support expansion of school meals in Malawi
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and with support from the Government of Iceland, has expanded the Home-Grown School Meals (HGSM) programme to Nkhotakota district, Malawi. The Government of Iceland has recently contributed US$ 1.5 million to facilitate the expansion of the HGSM programme over the next three years, improve food security for learners, create opportunities for farmers, and promote sustainable practices by using locally grown food and clean energy solutions. Under this initiative, 10,000 primary school children will receive nutritious meals to support them stay healthy and focused. The schools will also serve as a ready market for 1,200 smallholder farmers to supply locally produced food, boosting their business and local economy. In addition, farmer groups will receive training in marketing, financial access, and management, building on their capacity to reach larger markets. 'With the effects of El Niño-induced drought still impacting food security in Malawi, this expansion comes at a critical time,' said Simon Denhere, WFP interim Country Director in Malawi. 'Thanks to Iceland's support, we can reach more children with nutritious meals while also creating opportunities for farmers to strengthen their livelihoods by selling their produce to potential consistent and long-term business.' Beyond providing healthy meals for children and creating opportunities for farmers, a pilot project on clean energy will be introduced in selected schools. Biodigesters will turn organic waste into biogas for cooking and biofertilizer for school gardens, reducing the need for firewood, to protect forests and improve farming methods. 'Since 2012, Iceland has supported the school feeding programme in Mangochi, and we are proud to expand to Nkhotakota' said Davið Bjarnason, Head of Mission, Embassy of Iceland in Malawi. 'The intervention improves nutrition and strengthens local economies by sourcing food from small-scale farmers. Expanding to Nkhotakota reinforces our commitment to sustainable school feeding and stronger food systems. Improving the education environment in Nkhotakota is a pillar of our work with the District Council, and the Home-Grown School Meals programme complements these efforts.' Expanding the Home-Grown School Meals Programme aligns with national efforts to enhance school feeding nationwide. The goal of this programme is to address immediate food security challenges while laying a foundation for healthier, more educated future generations. The HGSM programme will also link with the existing Nkhotakota Basic Services Programme (KKBSP), implemented by the district council and funded by the Government of Iceland. The expected outcome of the KKBSP is enhanced provision and use of inclusive and sustainable basic social services in Nkhotakota district, including primary education. 'School meals programmes are a national priority, helping children stay healthy and focused on the classroom,' said Mrs Maureen Maguza-Tembo, Deputy Director for School Health, Nutrition, HIV and AIDS in the Ministry of Education. 'Expanding the Home-Grown School Meals programme to more districts strengthens both education and local food systems, and we appreciate the continued collaboration with WFP and Iceland in making this possible.' WFP currently provides school meals to approximately 800,000 children in Malawi, working in close coordination with the Ministry of Education and partners to promote sustainable, locally driven solutions that improve education, nutrition, and livelihoods. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).
Zawya
17-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
IMF Staff Completes SMP Discussion Mission to Zimbabwe
At the conclusion of the IMF mission, Mr. Maliszewski issued the following statement: 'Zimbabwe's economic activity has started recovering after the El Niño-induced drought. Growth slowed from 5.3 percent to an estimated 2 percent in 2024, as the drought lowered agricultural output by 15 percent. This was compounded by reduced electricity production and declining prices for key mineral exports (platinum and lithium). That said, strong remittances continued supporting activity in domestic trade, services, and construction, and improved the current account surplus to an estimated US$500 million (1.4 percent of GDP) in 2024. The ZiG willing-buyer willing-seller (WBWS) exchange rate was stable from the ZiG's introduction in April 2024—with the ZiG month-on-month inflation averaging 2.3 percent—until September, when the currency weakened. Relative stability returned with the tightening of monetary policy since September, and the WBWS and parallel market exchange rates have stabilized, and the gap between these rates has narrowed. Meanwhile, fiscal pressures intensified—owing, in large part, to the transfer of the RBZ's quasi-fiscal operations to the Treasury. Strong revenue collection helped limit the 2024 budget deficit to an estimated 1 percent of GDP, but fiscal pressures resulted in an accumulation of domestic expenditure arrears, leading to the government implementing emergency spending cuts. Going forward, growth in 2025 is projected to increase to 6 percent, with the recovery in agriculture output due to better climate conditions and the projected improvement in the terms-of-trade. 'Against this background, the Zimbabwe authorities had requested an SMP to support their efforts to stabilize the economy and re-engage with the international community on the arrears clearance and debt resolution process. The main objective of the SMP would be to durably anchor macroeconomic stability, building on policy recommendations from the 2024 Article IV consultation. 'Building on progress achieved during the mission on the ongoing SMP discussions, Fund staff will continue working closely with the authorities on defining the key parameters and modalities of the program. Discussions include (1) adjusting the fiscal position to avoid a recourse to monetary financing and new arrears and building foundations for a durable fiscal consolidation; (2) fiscal risks residing off-budget (including from the operations of the Mutapa Investment Fund); (3) the effectiveness of the monetary policy framework for the ZiG; and (4) reforms to strengthen economic governance. 'International reengagement remains critical for debt resolution and arrears clearance, which would open the door for access to external financing. The authorities' reengagement efforts, through the Structured Dialogue Platform (SDP), are key for attaining debt sustainability and gaining access to concessional financial support. In this context, the SMP will help in enhancing policy credibility and advancing the reform agenda embedded in the SDP. 'The IMF continues to provide policy advice and extensive technical assistance in the areas of revenue mobilization, expenditure control, financial supervision, debt management, economic governance, as well as macroeconomic statistics. However, the IMF is currently precluded from providing financial support to Zimbabwe due to its unsustainable debt situation—based on the IMF's Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA)—and official external arrears. An IMF financial arrangement would require a clear path to comprehensive restructuring of Zimbabwe's external debt, including the clearance of arrears and a reform plan that is consistent with durably restoring macroeconomic stability; enhancing inclusive growth; lowering poverty; and strengthening economic governance. 'The IMF mission held meetings with the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Hon. Professor Mthuli Ncube, his Permanent Secretary Mr. George Guvamatanga; the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr. John Mushayavanhu; the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr. Martin Rushwaya, other senior government and RBZ officials, honorable members of Parliament, representatives of the private sector, civil society, and Zimbabwe's development partners. 'The IMF staff wishes to express its gratitude to the Zimbabwean authorities and stakeholders for the constructive and open discussions and support during the mission.' © Copyright The Zimbabwean. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
