The Malawi Government faces a K324.8 billion funding shortfall for its National El Niño Preparedness Plan ahead of the 2026/27 rainy season, according to Nation Online. While the response plan requires K488.5 billion to prepare for anticipated below-normal rainfall and prolonged dry spells, authorities have only mobilised K163.7 billion so far. The strategy aims to protect the country against weather shocks that threaten agriculture, food security, water availability, and hydropower generation.
Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi, who chairs the Ad Hoc Cabinet Committee on El Niño, stated that the plan focuses on early warning systems, safeguarding water security, and pre-positioning essential supplies, Nation Online reports. To cushion households against potential crop failures, the government plans to secure 440,000 metric tonnes of maize for national food reserves. The Department of Disaster Management Affairs will coordinate the interventions across 23 drought-prone districts to ensure early action and reduce the impact of the dry conditions on vulnerable communities.