MBC Visits SP-GEAR Livelihood Interventions

Village Headman Mpama (wearing a red cap) explains how group members use irrigation to grow maize and tomatoes.

MBC Management visited Village Head Mpama in Group Village Head Minama, Traditional Authority Malemia, Zomba, where they met members of Mgwirizano 2 Savings and Loan Group under the Social Protection for Gender Empowerment and Resilience (SP-GEAR) project.

The group comprises Social Cash Transfer Programme participants who received training in business management, saving and borrowing before being provided with MK700,000 in group seed capital. Members invested the funds collectively in crop production and are now growing 1,500 tomato plants, maize and other vegetables on more than two acres of land.

According to Group Chairperson Fanny Bauleni, the members expect to earn at least MK1 million from the tomato crop. Income from vegetable sales will strengthen the group’s savings and lending fund, while the maize will be shared among members to improve household food security.

The visit allowed MBC Management to appreciate how SP-GEAR combines social protection with livelihood support, enabling participating households to progress from meeting immediate consumption needs towards saving, developing enterprises and building resilience.

The Mgwirizano 2 Savings and Loan Group’s tomato garden in T/A Malemia, Zomba.

MBC Director of News and Programmes Bester Nyangwa said the group’s experience demonstrated why development interventions should be documented through the voices and experiences of participating communities.

“Stories such as this help the public understand what social protection can achieve when it is linked to skills, enterprise and community action. MBC has an important role in bringing these experiences to wider audiences and showing how such investments are changing people’s lives,” said Nyangwa.

CRECCOM Executive Director Alinafe Ireen Chibwana said the group’s progress showed the value of equipping Social Cash Transfer Programme participants with the knowledge, resources and confidence required to build sustainable livelihoods.

“The seed capital is creating a foundation for members to generate income, save, borrow and improve food security within their households. Through television, radio and online platforms, these experiences can encourage community participation and strengthen public understanding of approaches that support households to become more resilient and economically empowered,” said Chibwana.

SP-GEAR is funded by the European Union and the Government of Ireland through UNICEF Malawi. The project supports vulnerable women and girls to strengthen their resilience and pursue sustainable livelihoods.