CARE Malawi Titukulane – FY21 Q1 Quarterly Report

The program focused on three main purposes: (1) improving agricultural productivity and market access, (2) addressing COVID-19 challenges, and (3) strengthening district councils' capacities to respond to natural disasters. In the first quarter of FY21, Titukulane formed and identified 139 Farmer Field Schools and Business Schools (FFBS) and informal Private Service Providers (PSPs) in both districts of Mangochi and Zomba. The program also registered 4,899 existing PSPs, including 2,523 female PSPs, and mapped out 1,549 Youth Savings and Loan Associations (YSLA) and Village Savings and Loans (VSLA) in both districts. To address COVID-19 challenges, Titukulane implemented NFI distributions, disseminated messages, and rolled out training to address the challenges around COVID-19. The program also supported the Ministry of Education in enabling the safe reopening of 125 schools, creating a safe learning environment for over 185,999 learners. In addition, Titukulane focused on activities to strengthen the District Councils' capacities to respond to natural disasters. The program worked with civil society organizations to conduct a review and consolidate a District Disaster Contingency Plan (CP) and rolled out a Participatory Scenario Planning (PSP) orientation to the District Civil Protection Committee (DCPC) members and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) stakeholders. The program also participated in a coordination meeting organized by the Zomba District Council, where program quality improvement was part of the key agenda, along with the introduction of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between development implementing partners and the District Council. The MoUs will enable each stakeholder to define their roles clearly and establish how they will contribute to the desired Theory of Change (ToC) outcomes. In October 2020, BHA, in consultation with Titukulane, identified four priority studies (Gender Analysis, Social and Behavioral Change Study, Economic Analysis, and On-farm Value Chains Study) out of the 12 proposed studies. These studies were selected to help Titukulane strategically simplify its ToC and because they are likely to be significant contributors to ToC refinements during the culmination workshop planned for April 2021. The consultant hiring process for the priority studies finished in mid-December 2020, and fieldwork for data collection began immediately. A capacity building exercise was conducted for all new staff on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse (PSHEA) and Gender Based Violence (GBV) training. This training aimed to ensure that staff have in-depth knowledge and understanding of PSHEA and GBV policies and procedures. The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) facilitated District Council and community engagement meetings in preparation for the launch of the Food Insecurity Response Plan targeting 2.6 million people. DoDMA also activated the flood early warning system for Tropical Cyclone Chalane on December 24, 2020, and key messages were developed on flood hazards, providing regular updates on the storm progression, risk projections, and prepositioning search and rescue teams and supplies to most at-risk districts in the Lakeshore areas and Lower Shire. The Titukulane program has made significant progress in the first quarter of FY21, with a focus on improving agricultural productivity, addressing COVID-19 challenges, and strengthening district councils' capacities to respond to natural disasters. The program has also made significant strides in implementing NFI distributions, disseminating messages, and rolling out training to address the challenges around COVID-19.