German bank gives Malawi K45 billion grant

By Chimwemwe Mangazi:

The German Development Bank (KfW) on Tuesday signed an agreement with the Malawi government to provide a €54 million (about K45 billion) grant for financing of four projects being supported by the German government.

The targeted projects are in wildlife conservation, social protection, health and nutrition sectors.

KfW General Manager, Melanie Kehr, who was in the country appreciating progress of previous phases of the projects, said she was impressed with the impact on the lives of beneficiaries.

She said the support would go towards investments in health infrastructure, medical equipment and vaccines, and improving the nutrition status of children under the age five, adolescents as well as pregnant and lactating women in Nsanje, Phalombe and Lilongwe districts.

“With the new financing agreement, the delivery of cash transfers can be sustained in the seven Germans funded districts until mid-2021, thus, improving living conditions of the ultra poor and labour constrained beneficiary households,” Kehr said.

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Finance, Economic Planning and Development Minister, Goodall Gondwe, said the institution is the complementing government’s effort in alleviating poverty.

“There are four projects targeted. We are very pleased that they have increased their contribution with €17 million,” Gondwe said.

Of the €54 million, €18 million has been channelled to the Malawi-Zambia Trans Frontier Conservation Area, €17 million has gone to the Social Cash Transfer programme the Health Service Joint fund has received €10 million and the Nutrition programme has received €9 million.