Press Release: Malawi Humanitarian Community Welcomes €3.7m Covid-19 Response Boost from the European Union

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, it represents a public health risk to the people of Malawi. The European Union has allocated €3,700,000 humanitarian funding to provide immediate support to the Government’s Preparedness and Response Plan.

The EU funding will support three projects, which will work closely with the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA), Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare to address critical gaps in the COVID-19 response.

Funding aims to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by strengthening health facilities, improving access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, supporting national, district and community preparedness and response; ensuring rapid, gender-sensitive response to protect lives and livelihoods.

Two projects will be implemented across seven districts of Mzimba North, Lilongwe Urban and Rural, Dedza, Mangochi, Blantyre, Mwanza and Mangochi from 1st Aug 2020 to 31st Oct 2021.

Funding is being channelled through two NGO Consortia working together with complementary activities to ensure data and learning are collected and disseminated to assist all partners working in these sectors. Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) is leading consortium group of partners implementing in central and northern regions while Save the Children is leading implementation in the south. Partners in the project include Care, Oxfam, Catholic Relief Services, TroCaire, GOAL, Concern Worldwide, United Purpose, CADECOM and the Catholic Health Commission.

The Funding represents a significant step towards achieving the Government of Malawi's National COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan and strengthening Malawi’s capacity in the fight.

“The corona virus pandemic has shaken even the most established health systems in the world. The European Union stands in solidarity with the people of Malawi in the fight against the virus. Through this funding, we join hands with our partners in Malawi to beat this global problem and to strengthen local capacities to fight back,” says Alexandre Castellano, Head of Office for Southern Africa and Indian Ocean, EU Humanitarian Aid.

The two Consortia leads observe:

“This investment is a welcome opportunity to contribute to the National COVID Preparedness and Response Plan. All partners are glad to be able to leverage our diverse capacities in this coordinated program that will ultimately save lives,” says Kim Koch, Save the Children Country Director.

“Thanks to the diversity of activities under this project, the two consortia, in collaboration with the Malawian Government, are in a good position to flexibly respond to the rapidly changing situation of the Covid 19 pandemic in Malawi, as well as getting prepared to respond to potentially upcoming emergencies such as drought, flood or storm. This will ultimately add to improved resilience of the Malawian population,” Says Harry Guelker, COOPI Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Program Manager

Editors Notes:

The INGO Forum’s Humanitarian Committee was established this year to improve NGO coordination and collaboration in emergency response, and is currently lead by Catholic Relief Services and Save the Children. The committee works together to share learning, advocate for vulnerable groups in emergency response, and enhance NGO voice and engagement in humanitarian forums.  

Media Contacts:

Lawrent Kumchenga, Campaigns and Communications Manager, Save the Children, Lawrent.Kumchenga@savethechildren.org

Harry Guelker. DRR Program Manager, Cooperazione, Internazionale (COOPI), drr.malawi@coopi.org

Mathias Eick, EU Humanitarian Aid - Regional Information Officer, Mathias.eick@echofield.eu