Latest news with #SimonDenhere
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).
Voice of America
13-03-2025
- Climate
- Voice of America
Cyclone Jude batters Malawi, Mozambique; no deaths reported
Tropical Cyclone Jude slammed into parts of southern Africa this week, causing no deaths but leaving widespread damage, especially in Malawi and Mozambique. Officials in the two countries said thousands of people were homeless and some areas were without power. Aid agencies distributed relief where they could, but washed-away roads made the task difficult. The storm made landfall in northern Mozambique early Sunday and moved over southern Malawi, resulting in heavy rains affecting 13 districts from Monday to Wednesday. A preliminary assessment from Malawi's Department of Disaster Management Affairs released Thursday showed that the cyclone had so far affected more than 11,000 people. This means their crops were washed away or their houses and property were either destroyed or submerged by floods. The assessment said the cyclone displaced more than 3,000 people, who are now sheltered in six evacuation camps. No deaths were recorded, but the disaster management department said collapsing buildings injured 15 people, including 5- and 8-year-old boys. 'The 5-year-old is receiving medical attention at Queen Elizabeth Central, and the 8-year-old is admitted as well and is at Mwanza District Hospital following the collapsing of a wall of a house,' said disaster management department spokesperson Chipiliro Khamula. He said rescuers were still looking for three people who went missing Tuesday in Nsanje and Phalombe districts after their boat capsized on a flooded river. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that in Mozambique, relief operations were severely hampered by lack of access to thousands of people in Nampula province, where main roads, bridges and culverts were washed away. The United Nations agency said moving relief items and personnel from Cabo Delgado province to Nampula was also difficult because the storm cut off the N1 national highway. In Malawi, international aid agencies and the government were able to start relief operations in accessible areas. For example, the World Food Program on Thursday distributed some relief items to affected people in Mulanje district. Simon Denhere, WFP's acting country director in Malawi, said, 'With support from the UK government, WFP and the Department of Management Affairs have prepositioned food supplies, emergency kits and operational equipment, including search and rescue boats, to enable rapid response.' Lucy Mtilatila, director of Malawi's Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, told VOA that Cyclone Jude had moved from Malawi to Mozambique, where it was expected to dissipate. 'Right now, the threat of the cyclone is almost over.' she said, adding that floods were still a concern, although "the impact that could come with rains that we are getting now will be very minimal.' Jude is the third cyclone to affect Mozambique in the past three months, following Cyclones Chido in December and Dikeledi in January. Malawi avoided a hit from Dikeledi but was struck by Chido in December.
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).
