Malawi - Background Resources

Imperial College, London
Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Agrarian Development Unit, Research Themes and Projects

South African Regional Poverty Network (SARPN)
Country analysis pages on Malawi

Livelihoods and Diversification Directions Explored by Research (LADDER)
Study funded by DFID and coordinated by the Overseas Development Group at the University of East Anglia to to identify and promote policies to reduce the vulnerability of poor rural people in low income countries.

'Neo-patrimonialism and Policy Processes: Lessons from the Southern African Food Crisis'
Elizabeth Cromwell and Allan Chintedza, IDS Bulletin, 36(2): 103-108
This article explores the implications of neo-patrimonialism for food security policy processes in Southern Africa. The vision for food security in the region, based on economic liberalisation, has not been matched by the recent reality of 30 per cent of the population at risk of running out of food. The often unacknowledged influence of neo-patrimonialism on policy implementation in the region has been a major reason why the practice of economic liberalisation has not matched the principle. This implies much greater attention should be paid by all development partners to the policy process right, in addition to policy content.

'State of Disaster: Causes, Consequences and Policy Lessons from Malawi'
Early in 2002, several hundred Malawians died in a minor famine that attracted a great deal of media attention, partly because Malawi has not historically been a 'famine-prone' country, but also because the roles of the Government, the donor community and especially the IMF were highly controversial. Stephen Devereux was asked by ActionAid Malawi to investigate the causes of the food crisis. His report identified a series of 'trigger' factors as well as 'underlying vulnerability' factors, and raises concerns for future food security prospects in Malawi.

Resources