Impact Study of Multiple Shocks on the Most Vulnerable in Malawi Between 2019 and 2022
The growing frequency of weather shocks like hurricanes and droughts, as well as other extreme events, is increasingly and disproportionately impacting vulnerable households in low- and middle-income countries that lack sufficient safety nets for when calamities occur.
In recent years, Malawi has experienced multiple adverse events, including two deadly tropical cyclones in early 2022; the COVID-19 pandemic; and a recent sharp rise in food prices linked to severe weather and poor food production. However, there is an evidence gap on how these crises have affected vulnerable households needed to design appropriate responses at national and local levels.
To increase the understanding of the impact of shocks and to support planning, UNICEF Malawi commissioned AIR to fill this evidence gap in order to support planning, policy design, and program implementation.
Together with our partner, The Center for Social Research at the University of Malawi, we are conducting a study on how recent shocks have affected households in the country, including poverty, education, and health. The study also assesses households’ existing coping mechanisms to strengthen our understanding of existing tools as well as what is lacking.
