GENEVA-(15 May 2007) The GAVI Alliance and the World Health Organization announced today that the governments of Guyana, Ghana, and four of Africa's poorest nations, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia, have begun to help pay the cost of providing new vaccines to their children. And they have done so more than a year before the Alliance would have required it as part of a new funding cycle. For their advanced contributions to the "co-financing" of vaccines, and for putting immunisation on the forefront of their development priorities, the five African countries and the South American nation of Guyana will be recognized during a special ceremony in the course of the World Health Assembly, currently meeting in Geneva.
GAVI Executive Secretary Julian Lob-Levyt congratulated representatives of the six nations on their contributions, noting that the Alliance is now encouraging countries to prepare for progressive national ownership of vaccination programmes. Four of the six nations to be honored today are among the "least-developed" countries, with a per capita income of less than US$1000 dollars a year and low levels of economic and social development.
"Today these six nations are demonstrating their foresight and leadership in immunisation financing." Lob-Levyt said. "These countries should be recognized for placing a priority on long-term sustainability to ensure the health of future
generations."Lob-Levyt noted that countries such as Guyana, Ghana and Tanzania first started contributing to the cost of vaccines three to four years ago, then gradually increased their payments over time.
"Ghana began in 2003, paying 15 percent; in 2006 the government's contribution surpassed 55 percent," Lob-Levyt said. "Guyana started paying 20 percent in 2004. By end 2006, the country was covering the entire cost of its programme."
"If something is free, no one really values it. The payment has helped to underline the value of immunisation at all levels, including the government," said Dr. Randriamanalina Bakolalao, Manager of Madagascar's Expanded Programme on Immunisation. Commenting on the co-financing scheme, she added: "This has helped understanding and ownership of the immunisation programme to increase dramatically."
The Honorees
Madagascar, one of the world's poorest countries, in 2006 paid 16 percent of the US$2,201,000 cost of a tetravalent vaccine, a combination vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis and hepatitis B (DTPHepB) Madagascar has an estimated birth cohort of about 555,000*.
Guyana covered the full cost of the pentavalent vaccine in 2006, the fifth year of GAVI support, and a year in which the country could have received full funding for purchase of the vaccine. The pentavalent vaccine contains the same antigens as the tetravalent vaccine, but also protects against Haemophilus influenzae type b. With an annual birth cohort of approximately 15,000, Guyana succeeded in immunising more than 14,800 children in 2006 against Hib, HepB, and diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.
Malawi, another nation in the "least developed" group, immunised 534,000 children in 2006. It has an estimated birth cohort of about 555,000*. The government covered 9 percent of the US$10,340,000 cost of the pentavalent vaccine used to immunise the children born that year.
Tanzania: Since GAVI began supporting immunisation programmes in Tanzania, the under-five mortality rate has declined from 141 to 126, and coverage with basic vaccines has increased from 79 percent in 2000 to 90 percent in 2005. Coverage with DTP HepB vaccine in 2005 was 90 percent. Tanzania has started paying for the purchase of the tetravalent vaccine, contributing 1,212,000 doses in 2005, and 1,655,000 doses in 2006.
Zambia has increased the number of children vaccinated each year for the past 4 years. In 2005, 16,797 additional children were vaccinated with pentavalent vaccine than in 2004 (515,936 compared to 499,139 in 2004). The coverage achieved in 2004 was 94%. Zambia covered 14 percent of the cost of the pentavalent vaccine in 2006, costing the government a total of US$US$7,776,000.
Ghana, classified as one of the "intermediate country group," provided 56 percent of the US$11.337 million it cost to purchase its store of the pentavalent vaccine in 2006. In addition, the government covered 70 percent of the US$1,304,500 needed to buy the country's supply of vaccines against yellow fever.
"Ghana has in place strategies to increase financial sustainability," Lob-Levyt noted. "Those strategies include building close ties between the ministries of
health and finance, and ensuring that immunisation becomes part of the poverty reduction strategy plan. The cost of vaccines becomes part of the Ministry of Health's procurement plan each year."
Speaking at the award ceremony, Lob-Levyt noted that the experience of these first six nations will be invaluable to GAVI and the other nations, as the Alliance begins to implement its co-financing policies. "It will be critical to engage the support of governments, particularly Ministries of Finance and national Parliaments. If vaccination programmes have the buy-in of a broad range of stake-holders, it is much more likely that long term funding for this public good will be sustained", he concluded.
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The GAVI Alliance
Launched in 2000 at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, the GAVI Alliance includes among its partners developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry in both industrialized and developing countries, research and technical agencies, NGOs, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It is estimated that more than 2.3 million early deaths will have been prevented as a result of support by GAVI up to the end of 2006.
GAVI's efforts are critical to achieving the Millennium Development Goal on child health, which calls for reducing childhood mortality by two-thirds by 2015. Of the more than 10 million children who die before reaching their fifth birthday every year, 2.5 million die from diseases that could be prevented with currently available or new vaccines.
For more information on GAVI, see www.gavialliance.org.
Tuesday, 15 May 2007
Malawi-South Africa Agreement ''Will Attract Investors''
The Malawian government is optimistic that its new economic and technical cooperation agreement with South Africa will finally draw investors from its mighty neighbour.
Malawi and South Africa have signed the agreement to pave the way for the establishment of a Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC) aimed at enhancing socio-economic development in the two southern African states.
Despite being long-time trade partners, the countries had not formalized their relationship until last week on May 7 2007. South Africa's foreign minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and her Malawian counterpart, Joyce Banda, signed the agreement in Durban, South Africa.
The cultivation of the agreement had been ongoing since 2004 when a delegation from Malawi's ministry of trade and private sector development undertook a study tour to visit South Africa's department of trade and industry.
Malawi's deputy minister of foreign affairs, Henry Mumba, said that the signing of the agreement is an initial step towards availing Malawian resources to South African investors. Malawi is also seeking assistance from South Africa to develop its agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
‘‘Malawi is a great potential market for South African investors. But investors have been shunning Malawi because they have not felt confident with us without a formal agreement between the two countries,'' said Mumba.
Malawi is planning a meeting between South African investors and the Malawian private sector, civil society and government on how best to forge ahead with the agreement.
The agreement encompasses trade, investment and the movement of people where ‘‘it would be easier for citizens from both countries to work in each other's country'', according to Mumba.
He said with the JPCC, South Africa is expected to help Malawi improve its road infrastructure, the airline industry, agro-processing and the uranium mining industry which Malawi is venturing into.
South African commercial farmers will be asked to help develop Malawi's agro-industry. The country will also now be able to ask South African supermarket chains currently operating in Malawi to improve their labour practices.
‘‘The joint agreement is also a tool which will help to enhance confidence and trust between our two governments and enable us to coordinate our policies at the multilateral level,'' Mumba said.
South Africa's high commissioner to Malawi, Ntshadi Tsheole, said she was happy that the two governments have entered into a partnership as South Africa is Malawi's major trading partner. The agreement will boost the already existing diplomatic corporation.
‘‘It is hoped that the signing of the JPCC will unlock much more cooperation between our two countries,'' she said, adding: ‘‘In fact, last year, in one of the local daily newspapers, South Africa was declared second highest foreign direct investor in Malawi after the Republic of China.''
Malawi was South Africa's 10th largest export destination in Africa in 2005.
While Malawi's government is enthusiastic about the agreement, the Malawi Economic Justice Network (MEJN), a network of non-governmental organizations concerned with socio-economic issues, warns that the poorer southern African country has to approach such an arrangement with South Africa with caution.
It has to ensure that there are deliberate policies to ensure that Malawi gains from the agreement.
MEJN deputy national coordinator Mavuto Bamusi is worried because South Africa is already dominant in the services sector through, for example, retail chain stores.
‘‘Malawi could easily lose from this agreement because South Africa is the stronger partner. This is also an issue in the Southern African Development Community as productivity in the region is dependent on the dynamics in South Africa,'' said Bamusi.
He also warned that South African investors might only be interested in the ‘‘pool of cheap labour'' in Malawi. ‘‘What we need is for South Africa to invest in productive investments for Malawi and not to encourage consumerism.
‘‘We are looking at countries with two different levels of resource endowment. The arrangement between the two countries may only manage to formalize exploitation of the poorer country,'' Bamusi cautioned.
Bamusi, however, argued that South African investors were still better than the Chinese. The latter have been blamed for the influx of cheap commodities.
The Malawi government should work on promoting the general interests of the people and not allow South African-owned companies to sell commodities from their country that could equally be sourced in Malawi.
As examples, Bamusi cited agricultural commodities that are produced in abundance in Malawi. Potatoes and cabbages are some of the commodities that South Africa should not be allowed to bring into Malawi.
He also wanted to see steps to prevent both exploitative wages below the minimum level and poor conditions of service by South African investors.
Malawi and South Africa have signed the agreement to pave the way for the establishment of a Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC) aimed at enhancing socio-economic development in the two southern African states.
Despite being long-time trade partners, the countries had not formalized their relationship until last week on May 7 2007. South Africa's foreign minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and her Malawian counterpart, Joyce Banda, signed the agreement in Durban, South Africa.
The cultivation of the agreement had been ongoing since 2004 when a delegation from Malawi's ministry of trade and private sector development undertook a study tour to visit South Africa's department of trade and industry.
Malawi's deputy minister of foreign affairs, Henry Mumba, said that the signing of the agreement is an initial step towards availing Malawian resources to South African investors. Malawi is also seeking assistance from South Africa to develop its agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
‘‘Malawi is a great potential market for South African investors. But investors have been shunning Malawi because they have not felt confident with us without a formal agreement between the two countries,'' said Mumba.
Malawi is planning a meeting between South African investors and the Malawian private sector, civil society and government on how best to forge ahead with the agreement.
The agreement encompasses trade, investment and the movement of people where ‘‘it would be easier for citizens from both countries to work in each other's country'', according to Mumba.
He said with the JPCC, South Africa is expected to help Malawi improve its road infrastructure, the airline industry, agro-processing and the uranium mining industry which Malawi is venturing into.
South African commercial farmers will be asked to help develop Malawi's agro-industry. The country will also now be able to ask South African supermarket chains currently operating in Malawi to improve their labour practices.
‘‘The joint agreement is also a tool which will help to enhance confidence and trust between our two governments and enable us to coordinate our policies at the multilateral level,'' Mumba said.
South Africa's high commissioner to Malawi, Ntshadi Tsheole, said she was happy that the two governments have entered into a partnership as South Africa is Malawi's major trading partner. The agreement will boost the already existing diplomatic corporation.
‘‘It is hoped that the signing of the JPCC will unlock much more cooperation between our two countries,'' she said, adding: ‘‘In fact, last year, in one of the local daily newspapers, South Africa was declared second highest foreign direct investor in Malawi after the Republic of China.''
Malawi was South Africa's 10th largest export destination in Africa in 2005.
While Malawi's government is enthusiastic about the agreement, the Malawi Economic Justice Network (MEJN), a network of non-governmental organizations concerned with socio-economic issues, warns that the poorer southern African country has to approach such an arrangement with South Africa with caution.
It has to ensure that there are deliberate policies to ensure that Malawi gains from the agreement.
MEJN deputy national coordinator Mavuto Bamusi is worried because South Africa is already dominant in the services sector through, for example, retail chain stores.
‘‘Malawi could easily lose from this agreement because South Africa is the stronger partner. This is also an issue in the Southern African Development Community as productivity in the region is dependent on the dynamics in South Africa,'' said Bamusi.
He also warned that South African investors might only be interested in the ‘‘pool of cheap labour'' in Malawi. ‘‘What we need is for South Africa to invest in productive investments for Malawi and not to encourage consumerism.
‘‘We are looking at countries with two different levels of resource endowment. The arrangement between the two countries may only manage to formalize exploitation of the poorer country,'' Bamusi cautioned.
Bamusi, however, argued that South African investors were still better than the Chinese. The latter have been blamed for the influx of cheap commodities.
The Malawi government should work on promoting the general interests of the people and not allow South African-owned companies to sell commodities from their country that could equally be sourced in Malawi.
As examples, Bamusi cited agricultural commodities that are produced in abundance in Malawi. Potatoes and cabbages are some of the commodities that South Africa should not be allowed to bring into Malawi.
He also wanted to see steps to prevent both exploitative wages below the minimum level and poor conditions of service by South African investors.
Get in step to help out in Malawi cash drive
FUNDRAISERS are being urged to join a campaign to walk to Malawi without leaving Scotland.
As part of NHS Ayrshire and Arran's virtual walk to Malawi, NHS staff will join people in a sponsored walk along the banks of the River Ayr to raise money for healthcare charities in Malawi.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran has joined with Cumnock GP, Dr Gareth Powell and the Ayr Presbytery to raise cash for a healthcare facility in Bandawe district.
advertisementDr Powell and Reverend Arthur Christie were part of a group from Ayr Presbytery who visited Bandawe last year.
The virtual walk to Malawi will cover more than 6600 miles visiting more than 14 countries. The idea is that instead of walking to the destination, you cover the distance by walking, running, cycling or swimming in your local area.
The sponsored walk will take place this Saturday and will start at Ayr College.
If you would like to take part call 01292 885808 . Or visit www.healthinfoshop.
As part of NHS Ayrshire and Arran's virtual walk to Malawi, NHS staff will join people in a sponsored walk along the banks of the River Ayr to raise money for healthcare charities in Malawi.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran has joined with Cumnock GP, Dr Gareth Powell and the Ayr Presbytery to raise cash for a healthcare facility in Bandawe district.
advertisementDr Powell and Reverend Arthur Christie were part of a group from Ayr Presbytery who visited Bandawe last year.
The virtual walk to Malawi will cover more than 6600 miles visiting more than 14 countries. The idea is that instead of walking to the destination, you cover the distance by walking, running, cycling or swimming in your local area.
The sponsored walk will take place this Saturday and will start at Ayr College.
If you would like to take part call 01292 885808 . Or visit www.healthinfoshop.
Cate Blanchett supports SolarAid, the charity of the Hay Festival
SolarAid, the UK’s first solar energy charity for the developing world, is the charity of choice for the Hay Festival from 24 May to 4 June 2007, where a special appeal by SolarAid patron Cate Blanchett will be screened.
SolarAid was set up to fight the two most important threats facing the world today: global poverty and climate change. The charity trains rural communities in Africa to build small solar devices, such as solar radios, solar lanterns or solar mobile phones. It then helps them set up small solar businesses so that they can sell their solar products and earn much-needed income to care for their families.
A solar lantern, for instance, can be made for $5, sell for around $15 and replace the unhealthy and carbon-intensive kerosene lamps that many Africans use - hence alleviating poverty and reducing emissions of carbon dioxide, a major global warming gas.
The charity is proud to confirm its patron as Academy Award winning actress Cate Blanchett, who this month has been named for the 2nd time in Time Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People in the World. Cate has been a supporter for alternative energies and the environment for many years and has filmed a special appeal for SolarAid to be screened at the Hay Festival this year.
Cate said: “I am thrilled to be the patron of SolarAid. It’s an excellent grassroots charity that does extremely worthwhile and specific work in Africa. I’m particularly excited about SolarAid projects that train young people affected by HIV/AIDS to start their own solar businesses, which is a very sustainable and promising way of helping them climb out of poverty.”
Jeremy Leggett, Chairman of SolarAid, said: “Our vision is a world where everyone has affordable, clean, renewable power. We believe that this is crucial for sustainable development that builds communities while protecting the environment and fighting climate change. If developing countries start using renewable energy now, they can grow in a sustainable way that protects their people and the environment.”
SolarAid also provides solar energy for schools, hospitals and medical centres. In Malawi, the charity installed a solar system on a centre for young people affected by HIV/AIDS. It’s the only building with electricity for miles around and now provides evening classes and community events. Hundreds of people attended the opening ceremony and the American ambassador to Malawi congratulated SolarAid on doing such a good job.
Solar energy is one of the most effective means of preventing climate change. It is a tried and tested technology and a cost-effective form of energy for many developing countries. SolarAid has the support of solarcentury, the UK’s top solar energy company headed by Dr Leggett and which has pledged five percent of its net profit to the new charity. Many staff from solarcentury and other renewable energy companies volunteer for SolarAid.
Christian Aid also supports SolarAid and is funding a micro solar project in Malawi. SolarAid seeks to become the charity of choice for the solar sector and the leading international agency on renewable energy for development.
Funds raised at the Hay Festival will go towards expanding the micro solar project in Malawi, training hundreds of people to build and sell their own solar products. To find out about the Hay Festival, go to: http://www.hayfestival.com/wales
SolarAid was set up to fight the two most important threats facing the world today: global poverty and climate change. The charity trains rural communities in Africa to build small solar devices, such as solar radios, solar lanterns or solar mobile phones. It then helps them set up small solar businesses so that they can sell their solar products and earn much-needed income to care for their families.
A solar lantern, for instance, can be made for $5, sell for around $15 and replace the unhealthy and carbon-intensive kerosene lamps that many Africans use - hence alleviating poverty and reducing emissions of carbon dioxide, a major global warming gas.
The charity is proud to confirm its patron as Academy Award winning actress Cate Blanchett, who this month has been named for the 2nd time in Time Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People in the World. Cate has been a supporter for alternative energies and the environment for many years and has filmed a special appeal for SolarAid to be screened at the Hay Festival this year.
Cate said: “I am thrilled to be the patron of SolarAid. It’s an excellent grassroots charity that does extremely worthwhile and specific work in Africa. I’m particularly excited about SolarAid projects that train young people affected by HIV/AIDS to start their own solar businesses, which is a very sustainable and promising way of helping them climb out of poverty.”
Jeremy Leggett, Chairman of SolarAid, said: “Our vision is a world where everyone has affordable, clean, renewable power. We believe that this is crucial for sustainable development that builds communities while protecting the environment and fighting climate change. If developing countries start using renewable energy now, they can grow in a sustainable way that protects their people and the environment.”
SolarAid also provides solar energy for schools, hospitals and medical centres. In Malawi, the charity installed a solar system on a centre for young people affected by HIV/AIDS. It’s the only building with electricity for miles around and now provides evening classes and community events. Hundreds of people attended the opening ceremony and the American ambassador to Malawi congratulated SolarAid on doing such a good job.
Solar energy is one of the most effective means of preventing climate change. It is a tried and tested technology and a cost-effective form of energy for many developing countries. SolarAid has the support of solarcentury, the UK’s top solar energy company headed by Dr Leggett and which has pledged five percent of its net profit to the new charity. Many staff from solarcentury and other renewable energy companies volunteer for SolarAid.
Christian Aid also supports SolarAid and is funding a micro solar project in Malawi. SolarAid seeks to become the charity of choice for the solar sector and the leading international agency on renewable energy for development.
Funds raised at the Hay Festival will go towards expanding the micro solar project in Malawi, training hundreds of people to build and sell their own solar products. To find out about the Hay Festival, go to: http://www.hayfestival.com/wales
Accounting for AIDS funding no small matter
Smaller AIDS organisations in Malawi are in the spotlight after a recent move by the National AIDS Commission (NAC) to suspend their financial aid because many cannot account for the funds allocated to them.
But community-based organisations (CBOs) have warned that the NAC's decision could jeopardise their efforts to curb the spread of the epidemic in a country with one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. Over 30 CBOs have failed to account for money from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, distributed by the NAC.
Malawi has 27 districts and a budget for HIV/AIDS activities is allocated to each, depending on its size and population. Most CBOs work closely with local government district assemblies to implement their interventions.
"Some of the CBOs in Karonga [district] cannot do their work because NAC has suspended funding on allegations that they swindled money meant for HIV/AIDS programmes. The problem is with NAC as well, because they just give out money to organisations without even finding out properly how accountable these CBOs are," said an official from Karonga District Assembly, who asked not to be named.
Many CBOs who start local HIV/AIDS interventions have no experience of running an organisation, and struggle to write funding proposals or report to donors. Organisations such as the Malawi Interfaith AIDS Association (MIAA), an umbrella body of faith-based organisations (FBOs), are calling on the NAC to assist them in managing their financial resources.
Rev Francis Mkandawire, chairman of the MIAA's board of trustees, told IRIN/PlusNews: "We are aware that a number of organisations fail to account for NAC funds, but most of them do not really know how to properly write how the money was spent because they do not have receipts; but this does not mean that they have misused the money."
The donor community and bodies such as NAC, also had a responsibility to build the capacity of CBOs, pointed out Donald Makwakwa, programme officer for the Malawi National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (MANASO). "The organisations that are giving the money to the CBOs ... are not training them on how to manage the funds properly ... some of the people managing the funds have no knowledge of how they can account for them," he said.
The CBOs have also accused the NAC of delaying payments to projects that qualified for funding, and have expressed concern that such interruptions and delays pose a serious threat to their continued existence.
"I would like to call upon NAC to review their funding procedures. Most of our FBOs fail to access funds from NAC because their process takes too long. We cannot wait over five months to have the money from NAC even after the proposal for funding has met all the criteria. People are dying and we need to be on the ground to do the work," said Kettie Gondwe, an MIAA programme officer.
NAC Executive Director Bizwick Mwale warned that a lack of accountability could lead to lack of funding. Robert Chizimba, acting head of behaviour change at the NAC, acknowledged the work done by smaller organisations such as CBOs and FBOs, and stressed that the NAC would be willing to support projects "as long as they meet all the criteria."
But community-based organisations (CBOs) have warned that the NAC's decision could jeopardise their efforts to curb the spread of the epidemic in a country with one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. Over 30 CBOs have failed to account for money from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, distributed by the NAC.
Malawi has 27 districts and a budget for HIV/AIDS activities is allocated to each, depending on its size and population. Most CBOs work closely with local government district assemblies to implement their interventions.
"Some of the CBOs in Karonga [district] cannot do their work because NAC has suspended funding on allegations that they swindled money meant for HIV/AIDS programmes. The problem is with NAC as well, because they just give out money to organisations without even finding out properly how accountable these CBOs are," said an official from Karonga District Assembly, who asked not to be named.
Many CBOs who start local HIV/AIDS interventions have no experience of running an organisation, and struggle to write funding proposals or report to donors. Organisations such as the Malawi Interfaith AIDS Association (MIAA), an umbrella body of faith-based organisations (FBOs), are calling on the NAC to assist them in managing their financial resources.
Rev Francis Mkandawire, chairman of the MIAA's board of trustees, told IRIN/PlusNews: "We are aware that a number of organisations fail to account for NAC funds, but most of them do not really know how to properly write how the money was spent because they do not have receipts; but this does not mean that they have misused the money."
The donor community and bodies such as NAC, also had a responsibility to build the capacity of CBOs, pointed out Donald Makwakwa, programme officer for the Malawi National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (MANASO). "The organisations that are giving the money to the CBOs ... are not training them on how to manage the funds properly ... some of the people managing the funds have no knowledge of how they can account for them," he said.
The CBOs have also accused the NAC of delaying payments to projects that qualified for funding, and have expressed concern that such interruptions and delays pose a serious threat to their continued existence.
"I would like to call upon NAC to review their funding procedures. Most of our FBOs fail to access funds from NAC because their process takes too long. We cannot wait over five months to have the money from NAC even after the proposal for funding has met all the criteria. People are dying and we need to be on the ground to do the work," said Kettie Gondwe, an MIAA programme officer.
NAC Executive Director Bizwick Mwale warned that a lack of accountability could lead to lack of funding. Robert Chizimba, acting head of behaviour change at the NAC, acknowledged the work done by smaller organisations such as CBOs and FBOs, and stressed that the NAC would be willing to support projects "as long as they meet all the criteria."
Japanese Concept Enhances Rural Lives
A Japanese concept to help villages in Malawi focus their efforts on producing and marketing a single product has turned around the lives of rural dwellers.
The 'One Village, One Product Programme' (OVOP) is a community-centered, demand-driven regional economic development approach, initiated in a region called the Oita Prefecture in Japan in the 1970s. The approach is unique in that it achieves regional economic development by adding value to products, using locally available resources in processing, quality control and marketing.
Under the OVOP in Malawi, launched in 2003, some rural communities have set up a village food processing plant to produce jams, fresh juices, cassava bread and soya oil, or cooperatives that grow oyster mushrooms, while others have focused on products made from plants found in their area, such as baobab trees, or are even growing rice. Several projects have focused on non-food items, such as palm-oil soaps and brick making.
The government-run programme supports local initiatives with loans to buy processing equipment or packaging, and providing links to markets. OVOP's National Coordinator, Kamia Kaluma-Sulumba, said hundreds of people in Malawi had benefited economically, but "there were a number of challenges to deal with".
"We have received close to 1,000 proposals from different parts of the country. Some of these proposals are asking us to assist farmers or producers to train them on business management; others are asking for loans to buy food-processing equipment," she said, adding that they often lacked the staff to process applications to help more people.
Timothy Kaupembe, a rice farmer in Ntcheu District, in Malawi's Central Region, said: "This scheme was open to the villagers in the late [19]90s. [In] early 2000, government, with assistance from the Japanese government, improved the scheme and many farmers were allocated plots on which to grow rice. As if this was not enough, government introduced the OVOP programme in about two years."
About 2,000 farmers in the district have taken up growing rice in a cooperative effort under OVOP. Once the rice is harvested it is packed in quality plastic bags and sold in towns and cities.
Kaupembe, who started growing rice in 1999, said he could now support his three children with his earnings, and the programme also taught farmers about packaging and marketing.
"We are happy with the support we have received from government, under the programme. We have learned new techniques of producing quality rice, and because of this many of us have bought bicycles, built brick houses with iron sheets on top and are sending our children to school; something which our forefathers failed to do," added Kaupembe.
Leah Mphepo, a mother of six from Guluanenenji village, also in Ntcheu District, said, "In the past I had lots of financial problems, but when I started farming in the scheme ... some of those problems [were solved]. I am now able to feed my family well, pay school fees and take care of household needs."
She said government support had helped: OVOP gave communities in the area a rice-milling machine on loan and the farmers, who had formed the Bwanje Cooperative Society, would pay back the money once the machine started operating.
More marketing needed
The villagers were afraid they might not have adequate markets for their produce. "We are now producing so much rice, but we do not have markets where we could sell it," said Kaupembe. "[We] want to start exporting the rice and I hope government will continue helping us find foreign markets."
Kaupembe said most of the rice produced by the scheme, despite being of high quality, was sold cheaply on local markets because the cooperative did not have market links elsewhere.
OVOP's Principal Rural Development Officer, Sphewe Mauwe, said they were aware of the problem. "OVOP is helping hundreds of people across the country; rice farmers in Ntcheu are just one of the many examples of the many local people we are supporting in Malawi."
She pointed out that some honey producers were now exporting to neighbouring countries, such as Mozambique, while other products had even been exported to Japan. OVOP marketing advisor Kachio Fukui said, "We will try as much as possible to find markets for their products, even outside the country."
Since its launch in 2003, some 46 projects have helped improve the lives of almost 9,000 rural dwellers in one of the poorest countries in the world. Malawi is ranked at 166 out of 177 countries in the 2006 Human Development Index of the United Nations Development Programme.
The 'One Village, One Product Programme' (OVOP) is a community-centered, demand-driven regional economic development approach, initiated in a region called the Oita Prefecture in Japan in the 1970s. The approach is unique in that it achieves regional economic development by adding value to products, using locally available resources in processing, quality control and marketing.
Under the OVOP in Malawi, launched in 2003, some rural communities have set up a village food processing plant to produce jams, fresh juices, cassava bread and soya oil, or cooperatives that grow oyster mushrooms, while others have focused on products made from plants found in their area, such as baobab trees, or are even growing rice. Several projects have focused on non-food items, such as palm-oil soaps and brick making.
The government-run programme supports local initiatives with loans to buy processing equipment or packaging, and providing links to markets. OVOP's National Coordinator, Kamia Kaluma-Sulumba, said hundreds of people in Malawi had benefited economically, but "there were a number of challenges to deal with".
"We have received close to 1,000 proposals from different parts of the country. Some of these proposals are asking us to assist farmers or producers to train them on business management; others are asking for loans to buy food-processing equipment," she said, adding that they often lacked the staff to process applications to help more people.
Timothy Kaupembe, a rice farmer in Ntcheu District, in Malawi's Central Region, said: "This scheme was open to the villagers in the late [19]90s. [In] early 2000, government, with assistance from the Japanese government, improved the scheme and many farmers were allocated plots on which to grow rice. As if this was not enough, government introduced the OVOP programme in about two years."
About 2,000 farmers in the district have taken up growing rice in a cooperative effort under OVOP. Once the rice is harvested it is packed in quality plastic bags and sold in towns and cities.
Kaupembe, who started growing rice in 1999, said he could now support his three children with his earnings, and the programme also taught farmers about packaging and marketing.
"We are happy with the support we have received from government, under the programme. We have learned new techniques of producing quality rice, and because of this many of us have bought bicycles, built brick houses with iron sheets on top and are sending our children to school; something which our forefathers failed to do," added Kaupembe.
Leah Mphepo, a mother of six from Guluanenenji village, also in Ntcheu District, said, "In the past I had lots of financial problems, but when I started farming in the scheme ... some of those problems [were solved]. I am now able to feed my family well, pay school fees and take care of household needs."
She said government support had helped: OVOP gave communities in the area a rice-milling machine on loan and the farmers, who had formed the Bwanje Cooperative Society, would pay back the money once the machine started operating.
More marketing needed
The villagers were afraid they might not have adequate markets for their produce. "We are now producing so much rice, but we do not have markets where we could sell it," said Kaupembe. "[We] want to start exporting the rice and I hope government will continue helping us find foreign markets."
Kaupembe said most of the rice produced by the scheme, despite being of high quality, was sold cheaply on local markets because the cooperative did not have market links elsewhere.
OVOP's Principal Rural Development Officer, Sphewe Mauwe, said they were aware of the problem. "OVOP is helping hundreds of people across the country; rice farmers in Ntcheu are just one of the many examples of the many local people we are supporting in Malawi."
She pointed out that some honey producers were now exporting to neighbouring countries, such as Mozambique, while other products had even been exported to Japan. OVOP marketing advisor Kachio Fukui said, "We will try as much as possible to find markets for their products, even outside the country."
Since its launch in 2003, some 46 projects have helped improve the lives of almost 9,000 rural dwellers in one of the poorest countries in the world. Malawi is ranked at 166 out of 177 countries in the 2006 Human Development Index of the United Nations Development Programme.
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