World Bank approves $165.9 million grant for Malawi social protection programme

The World Bank approved on September 17 a grant financing package worth 287.8 billion kwacha ($165.9 million) for Malawi, aimed at strengthening resilience to climate and economic shocks while expanding access to jobs.

The financing falls under a new initiative known as the Integrated Social Protection for Resilience and Opportunity Project, or INSPIRE-O.

According to a World Bank statement, the project will benefit vulnerable households across all 25 districts and four cities of Malawi, combining adaptive safety nets with climate-smart public works and economic inclusion programmes targeted at the most vulnerable, particularly women and youth.

Additional drought-responsive financing mechanisms will be deployed in Malawi’s 10 most drought-prone districts.

Abdu Muwonge, the World Bank’s country manager for Malawi, said the investment signals the bank’s strong and enduring partnership with Malawi at a critical time, with job opportunities for young Malawians remaining limited and climatic shocks persisting, particularly with the anticipated El Nino weather phenomenon.