As Malawi concludes its voluntary repatriation programme for nationals returning from South Africa, humanitarian organisation Ashraful Aid Malawi has launched a K50 million (R460,000) pilot initiative aimed at helping more than 500 women rebuild their livelihoods.
The programme, being rolled out in Mangochi, seeks to move beyond immediate humanitarian relief by providing returning women with direct financial assistance as seed capital for small businesses, agriculture and other income-generating activities.
The initiative comes as thousands of Malawians return from South Africa following xenophobic tensions and difficult socio-economic conditions, with many facing the challenge of rebuilding their lives with limited resources.
Abdullah Panjwani, CEO of Ashraful Aid Malawi, told One Nation Media (ONM) that Mangochi was identified as an area requiring targeted support after the organisation found many returnees were arriving home with few assets and limited means of restarting their livelihoods.
Panjwani said the decision to provide cash rather than bulky relief items was informed by the organisation’s previous humanitarian work and the practical difficulties returnees often face after arriving home.
“Many struggle with transport back to distant villages, leading them to sell essential items below market value just to obtain liquid cash,” he said.
“By contrast, direct financial assistance puts purchasing power and decision-making directly into their hands.”
K50 million intervention
The pilot programme has a total budget of K50 million, with approximately 90 percent of the funding raised from Malawian donors and community supporters, according to Ashraful Aid.
The remainder has been contributed by international partners and members of the Malawian diaspora.
More than 500 women are being targeted, with each beneficiary expected to receive K90,000 once the verification process is complete.
Panjwani said beneficiaries were identified in partnership with Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), which compiled profiles of returnees, including information about their families and backgrounds.
The decision to focus on women was deliberate.
According to Ashraful Aid, many had left behind jobs, small businesses or domestic employment in South Africa and returned to Malawi with responsibility for children and elderly dependants.
Many arrived without savings, established income streams or businesses to fall back on, leaving them particularly vulnerable during the reintegration process.
Verification underway
The initiative has not yet reached the cash-disbursement stage.
Ashraful Aid says beneficiary identification has been completed, while formal verification is underway in collaboration with DoDMA.
The K90,000 payments are expected to be made once verification is complete, with the process monitored to ensure the money reaches the intended recipients.
Panjwani said the assistance is intended to meet immediate needs while also giving beneficiaries an opportunity to rebuild sustainable livelihoods.
Depending on their circumstances, recipients could use the money to establish small trading businesses, purchase agricultural inputs or invest in other local income-generating activities.
Beyond cash assistance
Ashraful Aid says the programme is intended to form part of a broader effort to reintegrate returning Malawians rather than serve as a once-off relief intervention.
The organisation is also piloting a job-matching programme aimed at connecting returnees with businesses seeking workers.
Panjwani said Ashraful Aid is working with corporate partners and other organisations to identify returnees with relevant skills and connect them with potential employment opportunities.
“This cash distribution is strictly the beginning, not a one-off or haphazard intervention,” he said, adding that the organisation is committed to developing longer-term reintegration pathways.
The programme comes amid the wider challenge of reintegrating Malawians returning from South Africa after leaving behind jobs, businesses and other sources of income.
Panjwani said Ashraful Aid’s approach is also rooted in its Islamic understanding of humanitarian responsibility.
“In Islam, serving humanity is a sacred trust,” he said, describing the returnees as “our own brothers and sisters” who require support during a period of distress.
He said the organisation sees its role as extending beyond charity towards helping families restore dignity, economic independence and stability as they rebuild their lives.
One Nation Media has approached the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) for comment on the initiative, including its role in identifying and verifying beneficiaries and monitoring the programme. This article will be updated once a response is received.
