i4D's Agriculture, Climate & Food Systems pillar strengthens resilient, climate-smart and market-oriented agricultural and food systems across Malawi, empowering farmers, improving nutrition and building rural livelihoods that withstand a changing climate.
Our Strategic Goal
To strengthen resilient, climate-smart, inclusive and market-oriented agricultural and food systems that improve food security, nutrition, livelihoods, environmental sustainability and economic growth.
Strategic Objectives
- Improve agricultural productivity and resilience through climate-smart technologies and practices, and strengthen agricultural research and innovation.
- Strengthen food systems and nutrition security, especially for children, pregnant and lactating women.
- Enhance access to agricultural markets, value chains and finance, especially for women and youth.
- Promote climate change adaptation, mitigation and sustainable natural resource management.
- Strengthen agricultural governance and policy implementation.
Key Areas of Support
- Climate-Smart Agriculture
- Food Security and Nutrition
- Agricultural Value Chains and Market Systems
- Climate Change Adaptation and Environmental Sustainability
- Water Resource Management
- Agricultural Research, Innovation and Technology
- Rural Livelihoods and Economic Empowerment
- Agricultural Governance and Policy
Flagship Programmes
- Climate-Smart Agriculture Initiative
- Sustainable Food Systems Programme
- National Nutrition Improvement Programme
- Agricultural Value Chain Development Initiative
- Rural Livelihoods and Enterprise Programme
- Climate Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction Programme
- Youth Agribusiness and Innovation Hub
- Natural Resource Management Programme
The Context in Malawi
- Agriculture accounts for over 30% of Malawi's GDP.
- Agriculture provides livelihoods for more than 80% of the population, dominated by smallholder, rain-fed farmers.
- 37% of children under five are stunted, reflecting limited dietary diversity and low agricultural productivity.
“Empowering farmers is key to resilient communities. Through sustainable, climate-smart agriculture, we can secure food, nutrition and livelihoods for all.”
Strategic Partners
We work with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, national agricultural research organisations and universities, FAO, IFAD, WFP, the World Bank, the African Development Bank, private agribusiness companies, farmer organisations, civil society organisations, financial institutions and community-based organisations.