Our work in
Malawi
Our work in
Malawi
Malawi is a small country with a strong unifying language (Chichewa). With some radio stations able to broadcast and be understood nationwide, the potential impact of radio in the country is huge. We began working there in 2007 but soon recognized the capacity for our local staff to establish their own organization. This was the birth of our sister organization, Farm Radio Trust. While we do work directly in Malawi, we typically partner directly with Farm Radio Trust. We worked together on a project that started a national conversation about a previously taboo topic: mental health. We have also branched out into addressing sexual and reproductive health and rights on air. Farm Radio Trust has been very active in local policy circles, facilitating the inclusion of information and communication technologies — including radio — into government policy as a key tool for agricultural extension, learning and change.
Our reach
4.7 million potential listeners
By combining radio coverage maps with population density information, we estimate that our partner stations in Malawi have a combined potential audience of more than 4.7 million people.
Stories
Partners
Feature projects
Feature publications
Country snapshot
169th on the Human Development Index
20,405,317 total population
82% rural population
62% employment in agriculture
6% rural access to electricity
64% women’s literacy rate
Source: UNDP, World Bank
Staple crops
Maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, rice, sorghum, groundnuts, pulses, tea, sugar, tobacco
Our work in Malawi
49 Broadcasting partners
1999 First broadcasting partner joined
2007 First radio project
Contact
Farm Radio International in Malawi:
Catherine Mloza Banda
Senior Program Officer, East & Southern Africa
cbanda@farmradio.org
Rex Chapota
Senior Advisor, Strategy and Growth
rchapota@farmradio.org
Farm Radio Trust:
Project broadcast languages
Chichewa