Diversifying livelihoods to strengthen resiliency to shocks in Malawi

With funding from USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, Malawi Livestock for Resilience (L4R) supported households in Malawi's Dowa and Ntchisi Districts, reaching 40,250 people who were highly exposed to disaster risks. Interventions included building access to locally-available goats and chickens, providing group trainings, enhancing livestock production techniques, scaling up para-veterinarian services and increasing financial literacy. We extended private-sector animal health and extension services through local, trained para-vets. Savings groups helped the most vulnerable mitigate risk, plan for household expenditures and make investments in on- and off-farm enterprises. The project engaged community members to mobilize women and marginalized individuals.