United Democratic Front leader Atupele Muluzi has strongly criticised President Peter Mutharika for seeking economic assistance from former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. According to Nyasa Times, Muluzi described the engagement with the Tony Blair Institute as a recycled strategy that previously failed to resolve Malawi's debt and foreign exchange shortages. Malawi24 reports that Muluzi questioned the value of relying on the institute again, arguing that the country requires sound local economic policies rather than foreign advisers.
Update: The International Food Policy Research Institute has warned that Malawi faces a critical delay in donor funding for its El Niño response. Nation Online reports that a new policy note indicates $190 million could eventually be mobilised by 2028, primarily through the World Bank. However, researchers cautioned that the funds will only become accessible once drought impacts are verified in early 2027, leaving the country exposed during the initial crisis phase.
In international climate partnerships, the Government of Malawi and the United Nations Development Programme have officially launched the investment phase of the Systematic Observations Financing Facility. According to a UNDP announcement, the five-year programme will enhance the country's compliance with the Global Basic Observing Network by improving the quality of weather data and strengthening early warning systems against climate hazards.