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With research staff from more than 60 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

researcher spotlight

Kalyani Raghunathan

Kalyani Raghunathan is Research Fellow in the Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion Unit, based in New Delhi, India. Her research lies at the intersection of agriculture, gender, social protection, and public health and nutrition, with a specific focus on South Asia and Africa. 

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IFPRI currently has more than 600 employees working in over 80 countries with a wide range of local, national, and international partners.

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Projects

The project aims to support implementation and ensure effectiveness of the Malawi National Resilience Strategy (NRS). The NRS was established to guide investments in agriculture, reduce impacts, and improve recovery from shocks, promote household resilience, strengthen management of Malawi’s natural resources, and facilitate coordination between government institutions, civil society organizations, and development partners. The key objective of the project is sustainable, equitable, and resilient food and nutrition security for ultra-poor and chronically vulnerable households and communities in Mangochi and Zomba Districts of Malawi. It has three core purposes:

Purpose 1: Increased diversified, sustainable, and equitable incomes for ultra-poor, chronically vulnerable households, women, and youth.

Purpose 2: Improved nutritional status among children under five years of age, adolescent girls, and women of reproductive age.

Purpose 3: Increased institutional and local capacities to reduce risk and increase resilience among poor and very poor households in alignment with the NRS.

Project duration: 2019 – 2024

Donors and funders

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Project partners

CARE Malawi

Water Aid

Save the Children

Emmanuel International

Publications

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Brief

Lessons from developing district-level M&E plans to implement the National Resilience Strategy

2023Kayamba-Phiri, Fundi
Details

Lessons from developing district-level M&E plans to implement the National Resilience Strategy

The National Resilience Strategy (NRS) aims to build resilience against economic and environmental shocks, promoting inclusive growth, food security, and well-being for all Malawians. The NRS consists of four pillars: (1) Resilient Agricultural Growth; (2) Risk Reduction, Flood Control and Early Warning and Response Systems; (3) Human Capacity, Livelihoods, and Social Protection; and (4) Catchment Protection and Management. Titukulane RFSA is piloting the NRS in Zomba and Mangochi districts, working with District Councils to coordinate implementation with various stakeholders. This learning brief highlights the lessons learned from developing the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plans in Zomba and Mangochi districts and offers recommendations for other districts planning to implement the National Resilience Strategy (NRS). The brief also discusses the Opportunities for Collaboration between National and District Pillar Leads and Aligning the NRS with Key Government Strategies, particularly the Malawi 2063 (MW 2063), to foster synergy and impact.

Year published

2023

Authors

Kayamba-Phiri, Fundi

Citation

Kayamba-Phiri, Fundi. 2023. Lessons from developing district-level M&E plans to implement the National Resilience Strategy. Titukulane RFSA Learning Brief June 2023. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

Country/Region

Malawi

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Resilience; Shocks; Food Security; Agriculture; Early Warning Systems; Flood Control; Capacity Development; Watersheds

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Links

https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.136821 Source record

Project

Climate Resilience

Record type

Brief

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Brief

From response to preparedness: Enhancing community-led disaster risk management in Malawi: Key findings and policy implications

2023Kayamba-Phiri, Fundi; Khulumbo, Burnnet; Nkhulembe, Maziko; Babu, Suresh Chandra; Ahsan, Sairana
Details

From response to preparedness: Enhancing community-led disaster risk management in Malawi: Key findings and policy implications

Key Messages: – Directing resources towards early warning systems and community sensitization mitigates the impact of natural disasters on vulnerable communities, prioritizing proactive measures over reactive responses. – To ensure effective and sustainable disaster risk management (DRM) initiatives, allocating resources to bolster district-level DRM structures in alignment with community-led resource mobilization efforts is crucial. – Recognizing the pivotal role of youth increases community anticipatory capacity through comprehensive disaster risk management training. Innovative approaches such as theatre for development foster civic engagement, community dialogue, and resource mobilization. – Inclusive participatory planning processes should embrace indigenous early warning information. In-vesting in automated community-based early warning systems, particularly focusing on agriculture and nutrition, facilitates timely decision-making and harnesses local wisdom. – To reduce vulnerability among low-income communities, forging partnerships with the private sector is crucial. Micro-insurance and asset options can be explored, empowering communities to enhance their resilience without imposing undue burdens.

Year published

2023

Authors

Kayamba-Phiri, Fundi; Khulumbo, Burnnet; Nkhulembe, Maziko; Babu, Suresh Chandra; Ahsan, Sairana

Citation

Kayamba-Phiri, Fundi; Khulumbo, Burnnet; and Nkhulembe, Maziko. 2023. From response to preparedness: Enhancing community-led disaster risk management in Malawi: Key findings and policy implications. Titukulane RFSA Policy Note 1. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.136823

Country/Region

Malawi

Keywords

Sub-saharan Africa; Africa; Eastern Africa; Insurance; Low Income Groups; Resources; Natural Disasters; Early Warning Systems; Youth; Agriculture; Disaster Risk Management; Nutrition; Resilience

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Links

https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.136823 Source record

Project

Climate Resilience

Record type

Brief

Resource thumbnail

Report

Community-led resource mobilization and early warning systems process assessment: Full report

2023Kayamba-Phiri, Fundi; Abbott, Daniel
Details

Community-led resource mobilization and early warning systems process assessment: Full report

This report examines the motivation and willingness of Village Civil Protection Committees (VCPCs) and communities to mobilize resources at community level for Disaster Risk Management (DRM). To do this, a participatory action research (PAR) approach was utilized, facilitated by SWOT analyses, in combination with focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs). The findings revealed that communities had prepositioned resources to prepare for disaster response as part of risk reduction. Participants identified their ability to mobilize themselves as a community; to mobilize funds and food; well trained and knowledgeable structures, good agricultural practices, and good governance as major strengths. Opportunities for resource mobilization included enterprise, piece work (ganyu), irrigation farming, access to safety net programs, and youth participation. Weaknesses included the disorganization of some community structures, lack of support or political will from community leaders and the government, lack of accountability from VCPC members, and reluctance to adopt improved agricultural practices. Community-based early warning systems, although available, are insufficient to provide effective risk reduction for natural disasters. There is a lack of documentation concerning indigenous early warning systems, which impedes the development of effective and contextual strategies for risk reduction. The recommendations include increasing awareness among traditional leaders, defining resource mobilization structures, documenting guidelines and transactions for transparency, investing in early warning infrastructure and capacity building, documenting indigenous early warning signs, and intensifying watershed restoration and conservation to increase disaster preparedness.

Year published

2023

Authors

Kayamba-Phiri, Fundi; Abbott, Daniel

Citation

Kayamba-Phiri, Fundi; and Abbott, Daniel. 2023. Community-led resource mobilization and early warning systems process assessment: Full report. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://ebrary.ifpri.org/digital/collection/p15738coll2/id/136721

Country/Region

Malawi

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Resource Management; Early Warning Systems; Disaster Risk Managment; Climate Resilience

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Source

Source record

Project

Climate Resilience

Record type

Report

Donors

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Team members

No staff members to display.
Suresh Babu

Suresh Babu

Senior Research Fellow / Head of Capacity Strengthening, Development
Strategies and Governance

Fundi Kayamba-Phiri

Fundi Kayamba-Phiri

Learning & Capacity Strengthening Coordinator, Development
Strategies and Governance

Other

Topics/Countries

Related links

External Resources

External publications

  • Workshop Proceedings
    • From April 6-9, more than 60 participants from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), CARE International (CARE), and affiliated partners joined a virtual Culmination Workshop for Titukulane – a 5-year $75 million Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA). This activity, funded by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), aims to improve food and nutrition security in Malawi, targeting the vulnerable Districts of Zomba and Mangochi. The Workshop was based on formative research and lessons learned since the activity began in September 2019. Its goal was for BHA and CARE to adapt the Activity’s Theory of Change (TOC) and activities to the local context. As a result, Titukulane will have a more comprehensive, sustainable approach to generating income, improving nutrition, and establishing long-term household resilience to shock.