In late October 2025, Malawi declared a state of disaster in 11 districts as a looming food-security crisis intensified. By mid-November, the declaration expanded to all 28 districts and four major cities.
The situation is severe:
- 4 million people—about 22% of the population—are expected to face acute food insecurity during the 2025/26 lean season.
- The primary driver is prolonged drought, worsened by rising temperatures and the failure of rain-fed agriculture, which more than 80% of Malawians depend on.
This crisis is part of a wider pattern affecting Southern and Eastern Africa, where climate shocks, economic pressures, and population growth are putting extraordinary strain on food systems.
But Malawi’s story must not be reduced to disaster.
It is also a story about resilience, innovation, and agency.
CERF’s Role in Supporting Malawi
In time’s of crises, the UN’s Global Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has historically stepped in with rapid support — providing resources for drought-resistant seeds, health services, school feeding, and cash assistance to help families recover with dignity.
During the El Nino-induced drought, Malawi received CERF funding for live-saving projects, because of the severity of it and compounding shocks. The CERF allocation for Malawi drought was allocated in 2024, with projects that continued into 2025. OCHAÂ also supported with Flash Appeal and coordination of response, alongside CERF.
CERF exists for moments like this:
to ensure that when disaster strikes, help arrives quickly, reliably, and fairly.
NF encourages anyone seeking to support immediate relief to learn more about the CERF mechanism and contribute directly through their official channels.
Why This Moment Speaks to Our Mission at Ntha Foundation
Ntha Foundation was built to strengthen youth livelihoods, creativity, and economic opportunity. But crises like this underline a foundational truth:
If we cannot stabilise food systems, no other form of development can take root.
Our mission is not only to respond to crises —
but to help imagine and build systems that prevent them.
This is why we expanded our efforts from just EdTech to AgTech. The Foundation is now working on a new long-term initiative focused on climate-smart agriculture, technology, and resilience-building for Malawi’s future.
About the Kwathu Smart Innovation Farms
Amid rising climate shocks across the region, Ntha Foundation and Q2 Systems have partnered to develop a new kind of resilience model for Africa — the Kwathu Smart Innovation Farms (KSIF).
KSIF is our vision for a future where African communities are protected from climate shocks because our food systems are smarter, stronger, and more innovative.
Using what we call a Digital Triplet, KSIF connects:
- a real-life climate-smart farm,
- a scientific digital twin, and
- a playable predictive simulation
…into one continuous loop.
This loop allows young people, farmers, policymakers, and innovators to learn, experiment, forecast, and improve real-world farming systems — all in one integrated environment.
The idea is simple:
Africa’s agricultural resilience cannot depend on reacting to disaster.
It must be built through systems that learn faster than the shocks we face.
KSIF is Africa’s first agricultural digital triplet model, developed by an African founder, incorporated in South Africa, powered by Q2 Systems in the U.S., and designed for scalability across the continent.
The initiative brings together:
- climate-resilient farming practices,
- basic and advanced agricultural technologies,
- youth-led innovation and digital skills,
- community-level food security models, and
- partnerships with global institutions working on climate and development.
If you would like to explore the full model — including how the real-world farm, digital twin, and simulation work together — you can read more here:
In short:
CERF supports communities during emergency.
KSIF is being designed to reduce how often emergencies need to be declared.
We see KSIF as a pillar of Africa’s long-term resilience —
and as a space where young people can shape the food systems of tomorrow.
How You Can Engage
If you’d like to support Malawi during this crisis:
1. Contribute to CERF’s immediate response efforts.
This is the fastest way to help families in need right now.
2. Learn more about KSIF and join our early interest list.
Over the coming months, Ntha Foundation will share more details on the work ahead, and how partners, researchers, funders, and community members can take part.
This crisis is a reminder of the work still to be done —
but it is also a reminder that Malawians are not defined by disaster.
We are defined by our ability to imagine, create, and rebuild. Ntha Foundation remains committed to that future.
Work With Us
Want to partner on or fund one of our programs / initiatives? We are always open to collaborations and partnerships. Contact our Founder; Ms. Nthanda Manduwi via contact@nthafoundation.org.
To keep up with the work of the Ntha Foundation, our hubs under the Kwathu Kollective, our initiatives, and our projects, follow us on social media:
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