"DFID has contributed to poverty reduction
in Malawi. Its programmes, however, are not all meeting their
objectives. DFID needs better information on service outputs
from the areas it funds to help improve performance and provide
assurance on value for money."
Amyas Morse, head of the National
Audit Office, 30 October 2009
The Department for International Development’s
programme in Malawi has contributed to poverty reduction, improved
health outcomes, larger harvests and more effective governance in
the country, according to a report by the National Audit
Office. It is difficult, however, to gauge how much of this
progress can be attributed directly to DFID’s aid. Progress
has been uneven across the country, some has been slower than
planned and there are opportunities to obtain better value for
money.
DFID is the largest single donor to Malawi and
has provided £312 million to the country between 2003–04 and
2007-08, representing 21 per cent of all aid received by
Malawi. DFID is well regarded by the Malawian government and
scores well against international aid principles. DFID has
reduced the running costs of its operations in Malawi by 25 per
cent. It has cut staff numbers from over 100 to 40, whilst
increasing its aid from £54 million to £70 million per year.
Poverty and hunger have reduced in Malawi in
recent years, and DFID has made well-informed choices on the design
of its programme. However only 61 per cent of the June 2008 targets
that DFID set for its programmes were achieved on time with a
further 14 per cent of these within the subsequent year. And
programmes had weak measures of value for money.
DFID’s programmes to improve health have been
well designed and have contributed to positive trends in health
outcomes of Malawians. Access to anti-retrovirals for AIDS
patients has greatly increased and child mortality has shown
sustained decline. Maternal mortality has fallen
substantially from its peak in 2000, but has not recovered to 1990
levels and Malawi remains amongst a group of five countries ranked
ninth equal in terms of being worst affected. Greater DFID
efforts to direct its support for health workers to areas of
greatest need, and to secure improvement in drug procurement and
distribution, would improve value for money.
DFID has also contributed to increased food
security through supporting the Government of Malawi’s Agricultural
Input Subsidy Programme. Rates of malnutrition have decreased
and maize production has exceeded consumption. The
cost-effectiveness of the Programme is heavily dependent on
securing good prices for fertilizer and on its efficient
distribution. Addressing weaknesses in the targeting and
timely distribution of coupons and fertilizer would improve value
for money.
Publication details:
HC: 964, 2008-09
ISBN: 9780102963243