AGP Executive Report

El Niño warning: Climate scientists say the current El Niño is already the strongest on record, with health, food and energy risks likely to intensify—calls are growing for a “war room” and early action. Clean transport push: Lilongwe City Council plans a city-wide electric bus system, creating Lilongwe Electric Transit Ltd to deliver cleaner, reliable public transport. Green jobs in farming: Inosselia Commercial praises GBI Greenhouse Limited for year-round greenhouse vegetables, boosting food supply, jobs, skills and export earnings. Wildlife & climate solidarity: A Catholic Relief Services visit to Madagascar highlights the island’s unique wildlife and how El Niño-driven extremes are hitting Malawi’s communities. Prison contraband crackdown: Malawi Prison Service reports 500+ phones, 1,000 SIMs and 5kg cannabis seized after advanced scanners were introduced at Zomba Central Prison. Land and conservation pressure: Government says it can’t return large areas inside Vwaza Wildlife Reserve and Nyika National Park to relocation camps, citing land limits and crowding. Tobacco quality controls: Experts urge strict production quotas and grower monitoring to protect Malawi tobacco quality and market access. School sanitation drive: Beautify Malawi Trust rolls out workshops to help teachers lead sanitation improvements under the “My Clean School, My Pride” campaign.

Post-abortion care delay: Malawi’s High Court ordered the Ministry of Health to amend post-abortion care guidelines by an October 2025 deadline, but the revised rules are still not finalised—leaving girls, especially survivors of sexual violence, exposed to avoidable barriers to care. Land and wildlife pressure: Government says it cannot grant requests to return households to parts of Vwaza Wildlife Reserve and Nyika National Park, citing population pressure and a strict one-hectare-per-family limit for relocation. Fuel forex risk: A Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences energy specialist warns the real threat is not storage, but whether Malawi has the foreign exchange to import fuel when buffers run low. El Niño warnings: Southern Africa braces for extreme weather as El Niño modelling points to severe impacts—drought in the north and flash-flood risk in the south—pushing calls for early action. Sanitation push: Beautify Malawi Trust (Beam) is training teachers nationwide to drive its “My Clean School, My Pride” school sanitation campaign ahead of the new academic year. Mining and media: Malawi’s mining minister urges balanced reporting that also highlights environmental protection and responsible mining, not only controversies. Conservation governance shake-up: Prince Harry has stepped down from African Parks’ board amid continued scrutiny over ranger human rights abuses, while Malawi-linked conservation work remains part of his past involvement.

El Niño Readiness: Governments across Eastern and Southern Africa are bracing for extreme weather as El Niño warnings point to above-average rains, flash floods and landslides, with Kenya flagging up to 1.5 million people at risk and calling for faster coordination and relief planning. Clean Energy & Power Access: Malawi’s Mission 300 electricity push may miss the 2030 target as project delivery lags, even as government says home-system connections have started and grid “last-mile” work continues. Mining & Environment Reporting: Malawi’s mining minister urges journalists to cover the sector with facts and balance, including spotlighting environmental protection and responsible mining practices. Sanitation in Schools: Beautify Malawi Trust (BEAM) is training primary and secondary school teachers under the “My Clean School, My Pride” campaign to strengthen hygiene and sanitation ahead of the new academic year. Wildlife Conservation: A global conservation story highlights how African wild dogs are being moved to new reserves to rebuild genetically diverse populations. Security at Sugar Estates: Illovo Sugar Malawi is investing MK2 billion in a new Nchalo police station after theft and vandalism hit sugarcane and irrigation infrastructure.

Child Health Partnership: Alder Hey and Malawi partners signed a new MoU to deepen collaboration on child health services, training, medical education and research, including paediatric emergency care support at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre. Wildlife Governance & Rights: Prince Harry has stepped down from the board of African Parks after the charity admitted human rights abuses by rangers in Congo-Brazzaville, renewing pressure on safeguarding in protected areas. Tax & Public Finance: Malawi’s Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamvekha urged the Malawi Revenue Authority to sustain revenue gains and widen the tax base without crushing low-income earners as MRA launches its 2026–2031 corporate plan. Forex & Export Push: Ecama warned Malawi’s forex reserve gains are volatile, urging productive development spending and incentives for export-oriented investment to build reserves sustainably. Mining Oversight: The Ombudsman opened a systemic investigation into Malawi’s mining sector, focusing on transparency, accountability, environmental justice and community displacement impacts. Climate & Food Stress: Farmers in Malawi report winter crop failures linked to failed rains and scorching sunshine, highlighting growing El Niño-linked risks to food security. Clean Cooking Climate Action: BURN says it has distributed 166,235 clean cooking stoves in Malawi and is authorised to generate 3.5 million carbon credits, supporting clean cooking and emissions cuts.

Conservation Governance: Prince Harry has stepped down from the board of African Parks after the charity admitted human rights abuses by rangers in Congo-Brazzaville, including allegations of beatings, rape and torture at Odzala-Kokoua National Park, as the group says it is strengthening safeguarding and human rights procedures. Climate & Food Security: Malawi farmers in Thyolo and surrounding areas report crop failures as winter rains fail and scorching sunshine dries fields, a warning sign as El Niño risk rises and extension support remains thin. Clean Cooking & Carbon Finance: BURN says it has distributed 166,235 clean cooking stoves in Malawi, created 400 local jobs and is authorised to generate 3.5 million carbon credits, linking household energy to climate goals. Agriculture Support Under Pressure: A policy brief warns agricultural extension services get about 1% or less of the sector budget, leaving farmers with an extreme worker ratio and threatening yields as El Niño approaches. Local Development Funding: Government has directed local authorities to submit cash flow requirements to unlock K5 billion Constituency Development Fund financing, tied to signed or evaluated procurement sums. Digital Transformation Links: Malawi and Ghana deepen cooperation on digital transformation and public sector innovation through a high-level study tour.

Clean Cooking & Carbon Finance: BURN hosted Malawi’s Natural Resources and Climate Change delegation in Njuli, near Blantyre, highlighting local stove manufacturing, 166,235 clean stoves distributed, 400 jobs created, and authorisation to generate 3.5 million carbon credits under CORSIA—supporting Malawi’s clean-cooking and emissions-cut goals. Mining Accountability & Environmental Justice: The Ombudsman launched a systemic probe into Malawi’s mining sector, focusing on transparency, accountability, and environmental justice, including displacement and compensation concerns. CDF Cash Flow Unlock: Government directed local councils to submit cash-flow requirements to unlock delayed Constituency Development Fund financing, tied to signed or evaluated procurement sums. El Niño Food Risk: Experts warn that El Niño could peak in 2026/27 and hit health and food systems, while underfunded agricultural extension services (as low as 1% of the sector budget) threaten yields as the season approaches. Gold Smuggling Pressure: Malawi may be losing up to US$700m in gold annually to smuggling, with government pushing for formal buying points and cooperative-based support to bring trade into the legal economy. Women’s Leadership & Climate Resilience Skills: LEAP Africa wrapped its leadership accelerator for young women across 48 countries, selecting 31—including from Malawi—for a Nairobi boot camp focused on leadership and policy influence.

El Niño Watch: Experts warn a potentially record-breaking El Niño may peak in Nov 2026–Jan 2027, bringing extreme heat, drought, floods and health and food risks, with the UN calling for a $202m anticipatory action push for high-risk countries including in Africa. Farm Support Under Strain: As El Niño looms, Malawi’s agricultural extension services are severely underfunded—receiving 1% or less of the sector budget—leaving a farmer-to-extension-worker ratio of about 1:4,500 and threatening yield gains. Social Protection Funding Pressure: Malawi’s Social Cash Transfer Programme is reportedly funded about 95% by development partners, raising concerns that donor priorities are shaping decisions meant to be nationally owned. Girls’ Rights in Health Care: PAC guidelines for post-abortion care are still missing in public facilities after a court deadline passed, leaving raped minors denied safe services and forced to drop out of school. Gold Smuggling Losses: Government says Malawi may be losing up to $700m in gold annually to smuggling, and plans formal buying points closer to mining communities. Digital Divide: A GSMA report finds 80% of Malawians remain offline despite coverage, saying targeted digital reforms could unlock MWK 1.1 trillion and jobs. Water Cooperation: Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania signed the Ruvuma/Rovuma Establishment Agreement to strengthen transboundary water management for shared rivers, supporting water supply, agriculture and biodiversity.

El Niño & farming support: Malawi’s extension services are so underfunded that yield gains are at risk as El Niño approaches, with extension getting 1% or less of the agri budget and farmer-to-worker ratios swelling to about 1:4,500. Agriculture & food security: Policy experts warn that gaps in “software” support like technical help and market support are worsening, while the Constituency Development Fund is failing to fill the shortfall. Gold smuggling & environment-linked livelihoods: Government says Malawi may be losing up to US$700m in gold annually through smuggling, pushing a plan to set up formal buying points closer to mining communities to bring trade into the legal economy. Water & ecosystems: Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania signed the Ruvuma/Rovuma Establishment Agreement to create a basin commission, aiming for more inclusive management of shared waters that support agriculture, fisheries and biodiversity. Digital access for resilience: A GSMA report finds 80% of Malawians remain offline despite coverage, warning that closing the usage gap could unlock MWK 1.1 trillion in value and jobs by 2030. Policy & governance: Malawi 2063 planning is under strain, with the National Planning Commission saying the economy may need 14% growth and that financing gaps and weak execution are holding back delivery.

Gold Smuggling: Malawi may be losing over US$700 million in gold each year through illegal trade, with government pushing for formal gold buying centres and mobile units so miners can sell legally. Mining Cooperatives: Mining Minister Thoko Tembo says lack of equipment is blocking small-scale gold cooperatives, and government is talking to banks to fund machinery access. Social Protection Funding: Malawi’s Social Cash Transfer Programme is flagged as heavily donor-driven, with research saying development partners cover about 95% of financing and shape key decisions. Forex Pressure: Malawi’s forex reserves rose to $616.3m (2.5 months of imports), but economists warn shortages will persist without stronger, diversified exports. Digital Access: A GSMA report finds 80% of Malawians remain offline despite network coverage, while digital reforms could unlock MWK 1.1 trillion in value. EU Support: The EU commits €143m (plus €13m budget support) for agriculture, energy, education, skills and social protection. Water Cooperation: Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania sign the Ruvuma/Rovuma Establishment Agreement to strengthen transboundary river basin management. Climate/Environment Angle: Deep-ocean mineral mining is accelerating globally, with Africa’s land and seabed resources increasingly targeted.

Forex Watch: Malawi’s foreign exchange reserves rose to $616.3m in June 2026 (2.5 months of import cover), up from $596.5m in May, but economists warn the gain may be temporary and still won’t fix shortages for businesses and travellers. Energy Access: The energy ministry says forex priority is needed for Marep Phase 9 after delays left imported equipment stranded abroad, showing how currency bottlenecks can slow rural electrification. Land & Wildlife Under Pressure: Illegal gold mining is leaving “deep scars” in Nsanje’s Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve and Matandwe Forest Reserve, as protected habitats are cut and dug up. Gold Smuggling Crackdown: Government plans gold buying centres in mining areas to curb an estimated $700m in annual gold smuggled out of Malawi. EU Support for Resilience: The EU pledged €143m (plus €13m budget support) for climate-resilient agriculture, energy, education and social protection. Digital Gap: A GSMA report says 80% of Malawians remain offline despite coverage, and targeted digital reforms could unlock MWK 1.1 trillion and 490,000 jobs by 2030.

Transboundary Water: Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania signed the Ruvuma/Rovuma Establishment Agreement to set up a River Basin Commission, aiming for more inclusive management of shared waters that support water supply, agriculture, fisheries and biodiversity. Land & Wildlife Under Pressure: Illegal gold mining is leaving “scars” in Nsanje’s protected areas, with trenches and habitat destruction spreading toward Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve and Matandwe Forest Reserve. Climate Resilience & Food Security: Malawi is urged to rethink farm input strategy ahead of an El Niño threat, as the strongest El Niño on record could push up food prices across regions. Energy Access Bottleneck: The Energy Ministry says forex shortages are delaying Marep Phase 9, leaving imported equipment stranded and slowing rural electrification progress. Digital Inclusion: A GSMA report finds 80% of Malawians live within mobile broadband coverage but don’t use mobile internet; fixing device affordability and skills could unlock MWK 1.1 trillion and 490,000 jobs by 2030. EU Funding for Green Growth: The EU committed €143m (plus €13m budget support) to back climate-resilient agriculture, energy efficiency, skills and social protection.

Protected Areas Under Threat: Illegal gold mining is leaving deep scars in Nsanje, with Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve and Matandwe Forest Reserve being encroached—digging holes, cutting trees and destroying wildlife habitat. Land Degradation Pushes Global Action: Malawi is attending the UN desertification talks in Mongolia as land degradation erodes nearly $900bn a year and about 80% of Malawi’s land is degraded, with talks focused on turning restoration pledges into real financing. Climate Risk for Farmers: Malawi is being urged to redesign farm input support ahead of possible El Niño impacts, with different regions needing different approaches rather than one uniform package. Energy Access Bottleneck: The Energy Ministry says forex shortages are delaying Marep Phase 9, leaving imported equipment stranded abroad and slowing rural electrification. Digital Inclusion Gap: A GSMA report finds 80% of Malawians live within mobile broadband coverage but don’t use mobile internet, even though targeted reforms could unlock MWK 1.1 trillion and 490,000 jobs by 2030. EU Funding Boost: The EU committed €143m (plus €13m budget support) for agriculture, energy, education, skills and social protection, stressing accountability in spending. Gold Markets Plan: Government is set to open gold buying centres from September to give miners legal markets and curb smuggling, after estimates of over $700m leaving Malawi annually outside government channels.

Land Restoration Finance: Delegates at the UNCCD talks in Ulaanbaatar are pushing to turn land restoration pledges into real money and action as land degradation costs the world nearly $900m a year and Malawi has about 80% degraded land. Protected Areas Under Pressure: A growing gold rush is damaging Nsanje’s Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve and Matandwe Forest Reserve, with illegal miners cutting trees and digging pits that destroy wildlife habitat. Energy Access Blocked by Forex: Malawi’s Marep Phase 9 is delayed again because imported equipment is stuck overseas while government agencies and contractors struggle to access foreign exchange. Climate-Smart Farming for El Niño: Malawi is being urged to redesign farm input support by agro-ecological zone ahead of possible El Niño impacts, with different fertiliser strategies for the north versus the south and stronger early warning and food protection measures. Digital Inclusion Push: A GSMA report says 80% of Malawians live within mobile broadband coverage but don’t use mobile internet, warning that device affordability, skills and energy/forex constraints must be tackled to unlock MWK 1.1 trillion in value and 490,000 jobs by 2030. Lake Malawi Wildlife Science: New research on Lake Malawi’s lake-fly larvae shows they can dive deeper than expected thanks to strong air sacs, helping explain how insects survive in oxygen-poor deep waters.

Climate & Food Security: Malawi is being urged to redesign farm input support ahead of El Niño, with research warning that Northern and Southern regions may need different fertiliser and seed approaches as rainfall patterns diverge. Agriculture & Soil Health: A debate is growing over Malawi’s Farm Input Subsidy Programme making Mbeya organic fertiliser compulsory—critics say it risks replacing mineral fertiliser just as budgets shrink, unless nutrient quality is properly tested. Energy & Environment: Egenco says Malawi’s electricity generation capacity is struggling to keep up with demand, pointing to unstable supply as grid expansion outpaces new generation—raising pressure for cleaner, faster power solutions. Water, Sanitation & Health: Beautify Malawi (BEAM) is partnering with the Police Women Welfare Association to improve hygiene and sanitation in police stations and surrounding areas, linking cleaner environments to better public health. Biodiversity & Research: Scientists studying Lake Malawi report that lake flies can dive deep using stretchy air sacs, challenging old ideas about why insects don’t live in the ocean. Regional Policy: SADC leaders back a regional agenda that includes climate-resilient industrialisation and agricultural transformation, shaping how countries plan for shared environmental and economic pressures.

Lake Malawi science: Researchers report deep-diving Chaoborus edulis larvae can descend over 650 feet using stretchy air sacs, challenging the idea that pressure blocks insects from the ocean. Sanitation in police stations: Beautify Malawi (BEAM) Trust partners with the Police Women Welfare Association to improve hygiene and sanitation in police environments, linking cleaner surroundings to better service and healthier families. Health systems and NCDs: African health leaders urge countries to plug noncommunicable disease services, medicines and diagnostics into Universal Health Coverage reforms, as NCD deaths keep rising. El Niño food pressure: A Malawi-focused brief recommends tailoring input subsidies by agro-ecological zone and strengthening early warning and cash-for-work plans to manage El Niño impacts. Electricity strain: Egenco says generation capacity is lagging peak demand, warning that grid expansion must be matched with new generation to avoid unstable supply. Maize prices rising: Ifpri data shows maize up 8% in July, with southern Malawi hit hardest, even as imports help cap worse spikes. Climate-smart crops: CIP and partners release new potato and sweetpotato varieties in Malawi and the region aimed at climate stress and disease pressure. SADC push: SADC leaders back industrialisation, infrastructure, agricultural transformation and critical minerals, with Malawi’s President-elect and other heads endorsing the regional agenda. WAFCON momentum: Malawi’s Scorchers’ historic run to the final and World Cup qualification keeps the spotlight on high-performance planning and youth development.

Sanitation Push in Police Stations: BEAM Trust has partnered with the Malawi Police Women Welfare Association to improve hygiene and sanitation in police stations and surrounding areas, with training and support also planned through links with MOAM and ISAMA. El Niño Food Shock Warning: A super El Niño is expected to intensify through 2027, with central bankers flagging food inflation risks; Malawi’s insurance sector says agricultural cover is still under 10%, leaving farmers exposed. Maize Prices Bite Households: Maize rose 8% in July to K791/kg, with Ifpri noting imports helped cap further spikes, but structural farm problems remain. NFRA Stocking for Lean Season: NFRA has bought 26,663MT of maize toward a 108,000MT target, aiming to preposition grain in shortage areas ahead of rains. School Hygiene Drive: BEAM Trust also signed an MoU with ISAMA to train schools on hygiene and sanitation to cut disease risks. Environmental Health & AI: Malawi’s environmental health professionals are meeting to discuss how AI can speed up detection and prevention of outbreaks tied to water, waste and sanitation. Urban Planning for Lake Malawi: Nkhata-Bay District Council plans to expand toward Mkondezi to reduce congestion and replace unplanned structures with regulated development. Road Bonds Financing Roads: The Roads Fund Administration says “road bonds” let Malawi front-load road projects and repay via fuel levy proceeds, including major works around Lilongwe.