April 25, 2018
Government of Malawi and USADF Renew Matching Commitment up to $5 Million Over Next 5 Years for Community Enterprise Development
WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 25, 2018 – The U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) and the Government of Malawi renewed their commitment of $1 million dollars a year to support small and medium enterprises in rural communities in Malawi. USADF will match the Government of Malawi's commitment of up to $500,000 a year for a total of $5 million dollars over the next 5 years, to be invested directly at the community level. Through this co-funding partnership, USADF aligned its country strategy with the goals and priorities of the Government of Malawi to develop and expand small and medium agribusinesses, increase agricultural productivity and exports, and promote women’s entrepreneurship. The partnership demonstrates a joint commitment of the Governments of Malawi and the United States to achieving sustainable development for the country.
"Partnering with host country governments to reach underserved communities is a cornerstone of the USADF development model,” says C.D. Glin, USADF President & CEO. “We are delighted to renew our partnership with the Government of Malawi to transform community enterprises and improve livelihoods for rural Malawians.”
“This represents a great day for partnership between the people of the United States and Malawi. We are pleased to continue partnering with USADF to leverage our collective voices and resources to reach Malawians in need,” said H.E. Mr. Goodall Gondwe, Minister of Finance in Malawi.
“USADF’s partnership with the Government of Malawi demonstrates our shared commitment to promoting bottom-up, community-level development, for Malawians, by Malawians. The Government’s support has been essential to expanding the program and reaching rural communities,” says Lynda Jere, USADF Malawi Country Program Coordinator.
Since 2008, USADF and the Government of Malawi have invested a total of $10 million dollars to improve agricultural productivity, increase incomes, and strengthen resilience in underserved communities. Together they have funded over 100 community enterprises and reached an estimated 275,000 smallholder farmers, nearly 50 percent of whom are women.
In attendance at the ceremony was His Excellency Mr. Goodall E. Gondwe, Malawi Minister of Finance, and representatives from the Embassy of Malawi to the United States.