Vulnerability and Social Protection in Malawi
Stephen Devereux; Bob Baulch; Ian Macauslan; Alexander Phiri; Rachel Sabates-Wheeler (2006)
What is the nature of vulnerability in Malawi? What has been the impact of social protection measures to date?
This IDS Discussion Paper brings together in one publication two earlier studies:
‘Vulnerability to Chronic Poverty and Malnutrition in Malawi’, which included empirical analysis of the Malawi Integrated Household Survey 2004/05, and a
‘Review of Social Protection Instruments in Malawi’. The paper argues that social protection and livelihood promotion measures, together with an enabling environment, are central to addressing rising vulnerability in Malawi.
Findings include that:
Agricultural vulnerability is extremely high due to erratic rainfall, unequal landholdings; constrained access to inputs and weak markets; and is particularly concentrated in remote areas, in Southern Malawi, and amongst female headed households, especially those with orphans.
Social protection mechanisms such as public works programmes, social funds and food transfers have had limited impact. Free agricultural inputs programmes have had positive impacts on food production and prices. Unconditional cash transfers have been effective in pilot projects but need further institutionalisation.
The paper concludes that:
Social protection policy in Malawi needs improved coherence; comprehensive coverage but tailored to specific groups; and institutionalisation with government structures.
Social protection and livelihoods interventions must run in parallel: some ‘social protection’ interventions can link short-term support to livelihood promotion, but social protection is compensation for livelihoods failure, and it should not substitute for programmes that promote livelihoods. |
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