Mwapata Institute

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MwAPATA Institute is an independent agricultural policy think tank that is engaging the government of Malawi, Private Sector, and the Civil Society Stakeholders in a program of applied policy analysis, outreach, capacity building, and policy coordination.

Lemekezani Chilora, Research Analyst at the MwAPATA Institute, took the stage at the National Agroecology Conference 202...
04/09/2026

Lemekezani Chilora, Research Analyst at the MwAPATA Institute, took the stage at the National Agroecology Conference 2026, currently underway at the Crossroads Hotel!

Presenting on "Evidence-Based Agricultural Policy Research and Learning in Malawi," Lemekezani shared key empirical insights from the Improving Livelihoods and Resilience (ILIAR) project. The data clearly show the power of agroecology in action: adopting these practices directly boosts household income, improves diet quality, enhances overall food security, and increases essential protein and vitamin intake for farming families!

To scale these gains across the nation, Lemekezani highlighted that strengthening agricultural extension services is critical. However, since some households have yet to fully adopt these practices, future interventions must remain inclusive to ensure no farmer is left behind.

This evidence strongly reinforces what the Guest of Honour, MacPherson Nthala (Deputy Director for the Land Resources Conservation Department, Ministry of Agriculture), underscored during the event: agroecology isn't just a set of farming techniques; it is a holistic, science-backed, and community-centred paradigm shift essential for transforming Malawi’s food systems.

The ILIAR project is sponsored by NCA-DCA and implemented in partnership with CADECOM and the Permaculture Paradise Institute.

MwAPATA Institute continues to bridge the gap between science, community needs, and national policy through actionable research.

MwAPATA’s Research Director, Dr. Anderson Gondwe, is part of Malawi’s delegation at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kig...
04/09/2026

MwAPATA’s Research Director, Dr. Anderson Gondwe, is part of Malawi’s delegation at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, led by Hon. Roza Fatchi Mbilizi, MP, Minister of Agriculture.

The forum features key discussions on transforming Africa’s food systems. During the forum, the Minister of Agriculture presented a USD 2.4 billion investment case aimed at inviting investors to invest in Malawi's mega-farms programme focusing on selected key value chains, including soybean, groundnuts, maize, aquaculture, honey, rice, and beef. Other participating institutions include AGRA, NPC, GIZ, TI partners from Mzimba, Dedza, and Chikwawa, DCAFS, CSONA, CISANET, Heifer Malawi, private sector players, IMAGRI, and the Embassy of Ireland Malawi.

As a strategic partner, MwAPATA supports Malawi’s efforts with vital research on key crops, helping shape sustainable food security in Africa.

Representing the MwAPATA Institute at the 2026 National Youth Summit organised by the National Youth Council of Malawi, ...
19/08/2026

Representing the MwAPATA Institute at the 2026 National Youth Summit organised by the National Youth Council of Malawi, our Research Fellow, Dr Maggie Munthali, participated in the Breakout session themed "Green Jobs for the Future: Youth in Climate Action, Agriculture and Environmental Leadership" held today at the BICC in Lilongwe.

During the session, Dr Munthali made a presentation titled "Malawi NDCs and Green Jobs for Youths: Turning Climate Commitments into Employment, Enterprise and Inclusive Green Growth."

Based on various youth-related policy research studies on agriculture, natural resources, and the environment conducted by MwAPATA, Dr Munthali's presentation highlighted insights and policy recommendations on how Malawian youth can lead the country's green economy, from climate action and sustainable agriculture to environmentally friendly entrepreneurship and leadership.

Following two insightful sessions exploring Africa’s oilseeds and livestock, and fisheries value chains, the 2026 Africa...
18/08/2026

Following two insightful sessions exploring Africa’s oilseeds and livestock, and fisheries value chains, the 2026 Africa Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI) Brownbag Seminar Series concludes with its third and final session on Wednesday, 19th August 2026, from 14:00 to 16:00 CAT.

The theme for this session is "Unlocking the Potential of Agricultural Value Chains: A Case of Horticulture and Grains".

Africa’s horticulture and grains value chains hold significant potential to strengthen food security, reduce import dependence, create jobs, and support economic growth. Yet challenges across production, processing, markets and investment continue to constrain this potential.

Drawing on evidence from Ghana and Malawi, this session will examine what it takes to unlock these value chains through better-targeted policies and investments. The discussion will highlight lessons from the tomato, rice, and banana value chains, including how coordinated interventions can improve productivity, strengthen processing and market systems, reduce losses, and create the conditions for greater private-sector investment.

MwAPATA's Research Analyst, Mrs Joyce Minofu, will be one of the presenters in the webinar. Join the conversation as Joyce and other researchers, policymakers, private-sector actors, development partners and other agrifood stakeholders explore the evidence and its implications for agricultural transformation in Africa.

The webinar will be conducted via Zoom.

Register here: www.anapri.net/2026brownbagseries

French interpretation will be available during the webinar.

For enquiries: [email protected]

It's TODAY!!Join the AFIDA–ANAPRI Policy Dialogue.Theme: “Crowding In or Crowding Out? Lessons from Fertilizer Subsidy P...
12/08/2026

It's TODAY!!

Join the AFIDA–ANAPRI Policy Dialogue.

Theme: “Crowding In or Crowding Out? Lessons from Fertilizer Subsidy Programmes for Agricultural Transformation in Africa.”

The dialogue will offer evidence and practical lessons to inform future discussions on catalytic investments and sustainable agricultural support systems across the continent.

MwAPATA's Research Fellow, Dr Christone Nyondo will be one of the presenters in the webinar.

Time: 2:00–3:30 PM (CAT)

Register here: https://www.anapri.net/afida-anapri-webinar

We look forward to your participation.

For enquiries: [email protected]

With support from the Norwegian Church Aid Malawi, NCA-DCA, in partnership with CADECOM, will be implementing the GROW P...
11/08/2026

With support from the Norwegian Church Aid Malawi, NCA-DCA, in partnership with CADECOM, will be implementing the GROW Project, which aims to improve productivity and income stability for 2,550 smallholder producers in Ntchisi and Dowa districts by integrating goat production into agroecology-based farming systems. The project will also be implemented in collaboration with the Permaculture Paradise Institute as a technical resource partner and the MwAPATA Institute as a research partner.

As such, MwAPATA’s Research Analysts, Mr Lemekezani Kingston Chilorai and Mrs Joyce Minofu, participated in the project’s full inception session and training at the Permaculture Paradise Institute in Mchinji from 4th to 7th August 2026. The training focused on key agroecology approaches that will be applied in the project phase to strengthen technical capacity for the team.

5 Days to Go!!!Remember to join the live webinar-based conversation exploring practical solutions to transform agricultu...
07/08/2026

5 Days to Go!!!

Remember to join the live webinar-based conversation exploring practical solutions to transform agriculture across Africa by scanning the QR code on the flyer to participate in the AFIDA-ANAPRI Policy Dialogue on Wednesday, 12th August 2026, from 1:00pm - 2:30pm (WAT).

During the webinar, our Research Fellow, Dr Christone Nyondo, will make a presentation titled "Crowding In or Crowding Out? Lessons from Fertilizer Subsidy Programmes for Agricultural Transformation in Africa".

Representing the MwAPATA Institute, our Board Chair, Prof. Richard Mkandawire and the Executive Director, Mr William Cha...
06/08/2026

Representing the MwAPATA Institute, our Board Chair, Prof. Richard Mkandawire and the Executive Director, Mr William Chadza, participated at the "AGRA@20" Malawi commemoration held today, 6th August 2026, at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe, where the Board Chair gave a keynote address.

AGRA-Sustainably Growing Africa’s Food has been one of our key partners in various agri-policy research activities that we have been implementing. Recently, AGRA has been supporting MwAPATA in implementing the LEAP4YOUTH project in partnership with the National Youth Council of Malawi.

@20

30/07/2026

For many households in Malawi, repeated shocks such as rising agricultural input costs, floods, and irregular rainfall can undermine livelihoods and make recovery difficult. This raises an important question: what role can social protection play in strengthening household resilience?

A recent study by Dr. Anderson Gondwe, Mr. Bonface Nankwenya, Dr. Joseph Goeb of MwAPATA Institute, and DoE’s Professor Levison Chiwaula, examines this question using four rounds of the Integrated Household Panel Survey (IHPS).

Key findings show that:

1. Repeated shocks weaken resilience, particularly rising input costs, floods, and irregular rainfall.

2. Education strengthens resilience, improving households’ ability to cope with shocks.

3. Diversified livelihoods and savings build resilience, providing households with greater financial buffers.

4. Current social protection programmes have limited effects, with no statistically significant relationship found between resilience and coupon subsidies or cash transfers.

5. Long-term resilience requires broader action, including better education, livelihood diversification, climate-smart technologies, and more effective social protection.

The study highlights the importance of moving beyond short-term assistance towards policies that strengthen households’ capacity to anticipate, absorb, adapt to, and recover from shocks.

We congratulate Prof. Chiwaula and team on this important contribution to Malawi’s policy and research discourse.


Gowokani Chijere

Join the conversation exploring practical solutions to transform agriculture across Africa by scanning the QR code on th...
29/07/2026

Join the conversation exploring practical solutions to transform agriculture across Africa by scanning the QR code on the flyer to participate in the AFIDA-ANAPRI Policy Dialogue on Wednesday, 12th August 2026, from 1:00pm - 2:30pm (WAT).

During the Live Webinar, our Research Fellow, Dr Christone Nyondo, will make a presentation titled "Crowding In or Crowding Out? Lessons from Fertilizer Subsidy Programmes for Agricultural Transformation in Africa".

Address

P. O. Box 30883, Lundu Street, Off Chayamba Road, Area 10/386
Lilongwe
265

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 16:30
Tuesday 08:00 - 16:30
Wednesday 08:00 - 16:30
Thursday 08:00 - 16:30
Friday 09:00 - 16:30

Telephone

+265887403004

Website

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