For Immediate Release

Office of Press Relations
press@usaid.gov

Readout

The below is attributable to Acting Spokesperson Shejal Pulivarti:‎

On July 1, Administrator Samantha Power arrived in Lilongwe, Malawi. She began her visit by holding a town hall with U.S. Embassy colleagues alongside U.S. Ambassador to Malawi David Young and Acting USAID Mission Director in Malawi Melissa Francis. Administrator Power thanked U.S. Embassy personnel for continuing to strengthen the U.S.-Malawi bilateral relationship, despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis exacerbated by Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine. Administrator Power also met separately with USAID’s Malawian staff to thank them for their dedication and commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Malawi relationship.

On July 2, Administrator Power began her day at the State House in Lilongwe where she met with Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera. The Administrator emphasized the importance of the ongoing partnership between the United States and Malawi and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Malawi’s strategic development vision. The Administrator and the President discussed Malawi’s democratic reform agenda and ways in which the United States can continue to partner with Malawi to enact these crucial reforms. The two also discussed the ongoing global food crisis and the United States’ work to help provide emergency food assistance, build a more sustainable food system, and strengthen Malawi’s agricultural sector through increased private sector engagement. In remarks following the meeting, Administrator Power announced new USAID funding to strengthen Malawi’s Parliament and local governance; promote the country’s food security and economic recovery; improve the delivery of high-quality early grade reading instruction; and enhance early childhood nutrition.  

Administrator Power later visited Lilongwe Wildlife Center, the country’s leading environmental education facility, which provides housing and care to a variety of rescued animals. During the tour, she met with the Center’s Director of Programs, Dorothy Tembo-Nhlema, to talk about how the Center works to combat wildlife trafficking, and conserve and restore forests, watersheds, and other important habitats. She then met with local investigative journalists to hear about the challenges they face in their work and efforts to expose illegal wildlife and natural resource trafficking.

Administrator Power then participated in a food security roundtable with key representatives influencing food policy in Malawi and discussed the impacts of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on global food security and nutrition, economic challenges due to rising prices of food, fuel, and fertilizer, and the actions needed to address food insecurity in Malawi. She highlighted $12 million in additional funding from USAID to support Malawian farmers and noted that Malawi is one of eight new focus countries for Feed the Future, the U.S. Government’s global food security initiative.

In the evening, the Administrator joined anti-corruption leaders in Malawi including leaders of Parliament and independent oversight institutions to discuss the United States' commitment to supporting Malawi’s anti-corruption and accountability efforts.

USAID Administrator Samantha Power Travels to Zambia and Malawi
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