Country Facts:
- Capital city – Lilongwe
- Population – 19.1 million
- Life expectancy – 64.2 years
- Unemployment rate – 5.99%
- Below poverty line – 52%
Find more country facts on: CIA The World Factbook – Malawi
Habitat Facts
- Habitat started in Malawi in 1986.
- Individuals served in FY2022 – 56,705
- Through new construction – 2, 330
- Through incremental construction – 54,375
The housing need in Malawi
More than half, or 58.9 %, of the 4.8 million housing units in Malawi are substandard homes. Typically, these houses are made of mud walls and grass thatched roofs. To meet the current housing demand, an estimated 21,000 new units will have to be constructed annually in the next 10 years.
Anchored by the conviction that safe and affordable housing provides a path out of poverty, Habitat for Humanity Malawi has helped over 75,000 families to access decent housing. We work with vulnerable groups to build or improve the place they call home, improve water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, help families recover and rebuild following disasters, and provide informal vocational training. We also advocate for security of land tenure as well as sustainable and inclusive policies and systems that promote access to decent housing.
Habitat’s contribution in Malawi
Working with vulnerable groups
Habitat for Humanity Malawi builds homes and sanitation facilities with orphans and other vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities in rural communities. We also provide complementary services such as training to raise awareness of malaria and HIV prevention as well as property and inheritance rights. To date we have supported over 7,600 households.
Water, sanitation and hygiene
We help improve the health and well-being of informal settlement residents and rural communities through constructing user friendly, sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene, or WASH, facilities. We build communities’ capacity to manage the WASH structures and conduct hygiene and sanitation campaigns to raise awareness. To date, 30,652 households have since been served through our WASH interventions.
Disaster risk reduction and response
Habitat Malawi empowers local communities to build back safer and better after disasters and trains local masons to increase their knowledge and skills in building disaster resilient homes. To date we have supported over 16,010 households.
Advocacy
We advocate for greater access to land and housing. We als o promote policies that increase access to decent housing for vulnerable groups and low-income families, including the enactment of the National Urban Policy and security of land tenure.
Volunteer engagement
During the pandemic, Habitat Malawi connected with volunteers through virtual builds that provide follow ups on construction progress. With the easing of restrictions, we welcome more opportunities to engage with volunteers in various ways to contribute to Habitat’s mission and
achieve long term, sustainable development.
What you can do
Donate
To donate directly to Habitat Malawi, please contact us via the details below or visit habitat.org/donate and select “Designate your donation” to donate to Habitat Malawi.
Volunteer
The Global Village program is resuming region by region until a safe and quality experience can be provided at scale worldwide. Please visit habitat.org/gv for more information and updates.
Tithe
Habitat affiliates in the U.S. support the international work through an annual tithe. For additional information, email [email protected] or contact your local Habitat organization.
CONTACT
Habitat for Humanity Malawi Email: [email protected] or reach out to National Director Anock Kapira at [email protected]
Website: www.habitat.mw