Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world.

malawi’s children face extensive challenges.

Hunger & FOOD INSECURITY

In Malawi, chronic undernutrition holds many children back. About 35.5% of children under five are stunted, and seasonal hunger is common in rural areas during the lean months.

WIDESPREAD HEALTH THREATS

Many child illnesses are preventable, but they remain common. In Malawi, pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria, are leading causes of under-five deaths, and in rural areas only about 63% of households have access to basic drinking water.

poor EDUCATION outcomes

Many children start school, but too many do not finish. Malawi’s primary completion rate is about 47%, and upper secondary completion is about 14%, limiting future opportunities.

FRAGILE ENVIRONMENTS

When droughts or floods disrupt harvests, children often feel it first through fewer meals, missed school, and household instability. About 80% of people in Malawi depend on rain-fed agriculture, which makes families especially vulnerable to shocks.

VOLATILE ECONOMIES

Poverty shows up in children’s daily lives as unmet basic needs. About 78% of rural children in Malawi experience at least two severe deprivations, such as in sanitation, housing, education, or nutrition.