USAID/Malawi Quarterly Progress Report: New Alliance Policy Acceleration Support: Malawi (NAPAS: Malawi) Activity

Implemented by Michigan State University (MSU) in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the University of Pretoria (UP), NAPAS aims to enable the government of Malawi to implement policy reform agenda commitments made under the New Alliance Country Cooperation Framework for Malawi. The project's primary objectives are to provide technical support for policy formulation, engage in effective policy communication, and ensure expertise gaps constraining effective agricultural policy reform are filled. Technical support for policy formulation is a key component of the project. In the period from July 1st to September 30th, 2015, the team drafted the National Agriculture Policy (NAP), which is the first policy commitment under the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition. The document was validated internally with senior management of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development (MoAIWD) in September and is ready for validation by external stakeholders and submission to the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) in November 2015. The Contract Farming Strategy is in its final stages of drafting and is expected to be submitted to the Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development for implementation in December 2015. The project has contributed to reforms of the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP). In February 2015, Dr. Nankhuni wrote a brief on redesigning the FISP, based on results of recent evaluation literature, preliminary results of the National Agricultural Policy (NAP) consultations, consultation with MoAIWD staff, and results of the July 2014 FISP symposium. The FISP brief provided a basis for the Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development to lobby for reforms to the FISP. Currently, reforms to the FISP have started, after a long period of 10 years during which such reforms were not considered a possibility. The contribution to farmers under the FISP has been increased, with farmers now receiving MK3,500 per bag of fertilizer, MK1,500 for maize seed, and MK500 for a 2 kg legume seed package. Recipient farmers get two bags of fertilizer, a package of maize seed, and a package of legume seeds of their choice. This totals MK9,000 (about US$ 16) contribution by farmers from MK1,000 or MK1,150 (about US$ 2) that they were contributing to two bags of fertilizer and a seed package before. The government has also allowed the private sector to import and distribute 40 metric tonnes of fertilizer to 12 of the 28 districts in Malawi as a pilot towards increasing private sector participation in the FISP program. Policy communications is another key component of the project. Although no policy communication event took place in this quarter, NAPAS:Malawi was significantly involved in preparations for a maize markets symposium that took place a day after the quarter (October 1, 2015). Capacity strengthening is also an important aspect of the project. A Policy Analysis and Communication training was held on 8 September to 10 September 2015 at Hotel Victoria in Blantyre. Thirty-three people from government, the private sector, and civil society (45% female) were trained in policy analysis and communication. The project has made significant progress in the first year, with progress on the three components of the project including technical support for policy formulation, policy communications, and capacity strengthening. The project has contributed to reforms of the FISP, increased the contribution to farmers, and allowed the private sector to import and distribute fertilizer. The project has also trained 33 people in policy analysis and communication.