MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN

PROFILE

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This Malawi report and project was prepared and managed by the Late Dalitso Mpoola, Costly Chanza, Fred Nankuyu,
Hilary Kamela, the Late Marcel Kaunda, Alex Chirambo, Lucky Kabanga, Mavuto D. Tembo, Dominic Kamlomo, and
John Chome in Malawi.

This report was also managed by Kerstin Sommer, Alain Grimard, David Kithakye, Mathias Spaliviero, and Doudou Mbye
in Nairobi.

HS Number: HS/112/12E

ISBN Number (Series): 978-92-1-132023-7

ISBN Number (Volume): 978-92-1-132526-3

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 MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN
PROFILE
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD 5

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6

BACKGROUND 8

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 12

SLUMS AND SHELTER 14

GENDER AND HIV/AIDS 17

ENVIRONMENT, URBAN DISASTER RISKS AND CLIMATE CHANGE 20

LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 23

BASIC URBAN SERVICES 26

LAND 33

PROJECT PROPOSALS

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 35

SLUMS AND SHELTER 37

GENDER AND HIV/AIDS 39

ENVIRONMENT, URBAN DISASTER RISKS AND CLIMATE CHANGE 41

LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 43

BASIC URBAN SERVICES 45

LAND 48

3
44
FOREWORD
According to
research published
in UN-Habitat’s1
flagship report, The
State of the World’s
Cities 2010-2011,
all developing
regions, including
the African,
Caribbean and
Pacific states, will
have more people
living in urban than
rural areas by the
year 2030. With
half the world’s
population already living in urban areas, the challenges
we face in the battle against urban poverty, our quest for
cities without slums, for cities where women feel safer,
for inclusive cities with power, water and sanitation,
and affordable transport, for better planned cities, and
for cleaner, greener cities is daunting.
But as this series shows, there are many interesting
solutions and best practices to which we can turn. After
all, the figures tell us that during the decade 2000 to
2010, a total of 227 million people in the developing
countries moved out of slum conditions. In other
words, governments, cities and partner institutions have
collectively exceeded the slum target of the Millennium
Development Goals twice over and ten years ahead of
the agreed 2020 deadline.
Asia and the Pacific stood at the forefront of successful
efforts to reach the slum target, with all governments
in the region improving the lives of an estimated 172
million slum dwellers between 2000 and 2010.
In sub-Saharan Africa though, the total proportion of
the urban population living in slums has decreased by
only 5 per cent (or 17 million people). Ghana, Senegal,
Uganda, and Rwanda were the most successful countries
in the sub-region, reducing the proportions of slum
dwellers by over one-fifth in the last decade.
Some 13 per cent of the progress made towards the
global slum target occurred in Latin America and the
Caribbean, where an estimated 30 million people have
moved out of slum conditions since the year 2000.
Yet, UN-Habitat estimates confirm that the progress
made on the slum target has not been sufficient to
counter the demographic expansion in informal
settlements in the developing world. In this sense,
efforts to reduce the numbers of slum dwellers are
neither satisfactory nor adequate.
1 UN-Habitat - United Nations Human Settlements Programme
As part of our drive to address this crisis, UN-Habitat
is working with the European Commission and the
Brussels-based Secretariat of the African, Caribbean
and Pacific (ACP) Group to support sustainable urban
development. Given the urgent and diverse needs, we
found it necessary to develop a tool for rapid assessment
and strategic planning to guide immediate, mid and
long-term interventions. And here we have it in the
form of this series of publications.
The Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme is based
on the policy dialogue between UN-Habitat, the ACP
Secretariat and the European Commission which dates
back to the year 2002. When the three parties met at
UN-Habitat headquarters in June 2009, more than 200
delegates from over 50 countries approved a resounding
call on the international community to pay greater
attention to these urbanization matters, and to extend
the slum upgrading programme to all countries in the
ACP Group.
It is worth recalling here how grateful we are that the
European Commission’s 9th European Development
Fund for ACP countries provided EUR 4 million (USD
5.7 million at June 2011 rates) to enable UN-Habitat
to conduct the programme which now serves 59 cities
in 23 African countries, and more than 20 cities in six
Pacific, and four Caribbean countries.
Indeed, since its inception in 2008, the slum upgrading
programme has achieved the confidence of partners at
city and country level in Africa, the Caribbean and in
the Pacific. It is making a major contribution aimed
at helping in urban poverty reduction efforts, as each
report in this series shows."
I wish to express my gratitude to the European
Commission and the ACP Secretariat for their
commitment to this slum upgrading programme. I
have every confidence that the results outlined in this
profile, and others, will serve to guide the development
of responses for capacity building and investments in
the urban sector.
Further, I would like to thank each Country Team for
their continued support to this process which is essential
for the successful implementation of the Participatory
Slum Upgrading Programme.
FOREWORD
Dr. Joan Clos
Executive Director, UN-Habitat
5 5
 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
The Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme is an
accelerated and action-oriented urban assessment
of needs and capacity-building gaps at national and
local levels. It is currently being implemented in over
30 countries in the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific
Region. The programme uses a structured approach
where priority interventions are agreed upon through
consultative processes. Its methodology consists of
three phases: (1) a rapid participatory urban profiling,
at national and local levels, focusing on governance,
local economic development, environment, land,
shelter and slums, gender and HIV/AIDS, basic urban
services, and proposed interventions; (2) detailed
priority proposals; and (3) project implementation. The
Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme in Malawi
encompasses a national profile, as well as profiles for
Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, and Zomba cities, each
published as a separate report. This report constitutes a
general background, a synthesis of the seven themes –
Urban Governance and Financial Management; Local
Economic Development; Land; Gender and HIV/
AIDS; Environment, Urban Disaster Risk and Climate
Change; Slums and Shelter; and Basic Urban Services –
and priority project proposals.
BACKGROUND
Malawi is one of the least developed countries in Africa.
It had a population of 13 million in 2008, which was
predominantly rural (85 percent) and which at a rate of
2.8 percent between 1998 and 20081. The four major
cities accounted for 77 percent of the urban population
in 2008. Malawian urban centres are the engine rooms
for government administration, agri-business and
general business, industry, commerce and finance,
transportation, and the informal sector. Malawi’s annual
urban population growth rate is among the highest in
Africa, at 4.7 percent in 20082.
Urban poverty stood at more than 25 percent in 2008;
64 percent of urban residents in the major cities lived
in unplanned settlements and slums, with little access
to basic urban services. The rapid urbanization rate is
posing a major challenge to government at all levels
and other stakeholders. An integrated approach to
these urban challenges can lead to a reduction in urban
poverty; there is a need for open discussion, transparency,
and the inclusion of all urban stakeholders.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1 National Statistical Office (2009), Population and Housing Census Main Report
2008.
2 National Statistical Office (2011), Spatial Distribution and Urbanisation Report
2010.
66
GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT
Malawi has made significant strides towards
participatory democracy since attaining multiparty
democracy in 1994, through increasing support to
civic education, affirming the rights and obligations of
Malawi citizens, and furthering an understanding of the
democratic process.
The Malawi government is committed to improving
justice, rule of law, and internal security as the core
issues of democratic governance. The institutions
providing these services, though, face challenges
that lead to poor justice delivery, especially for the
vulnerable and marginalized. These challenges are legal,
institutional, systemic, infrastructural, procedural, and
human resource-related3.
LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
More than 80 percent of Malawi’s population depends
on farming in the rural areas, while in urban areas
administration, wholesale and retail trade, marketing,
social and community services, and construction
provide the main economic activities. Agriculture and
related activities account for more than 30 percent of
the gross domestic product, with about 60 percent of
the total exports coming from tobacco alone. Public
investment is seen as a key factor in the development of
the local economy4.
Women in Malawi contribute significantly to the
country’s economic and social development. The
hospitality and tourism sector continues to grow, and
Malawi continues to demonstrate remarkable growth in
the number of tourists despite the adverse impacts of
the global economic downturn.
LAND
Land is the most basic resource available for social
and economic development in Malawi and its proper
management and administration is fundamental for
ensuring equitable access to all citizens5. Most of the
land in Malawi remains under the customary tenure
system, but the status quo is changing as customary and
public land is being changed into private land (freehold
and leasehold)6.
3 United Nations Malawi (November 2010), Malawi Country Assessment Report
2010.
4 African Economic Outlook (2010), Malawi Recent Economic Developments and
Prospects.
5 Malawi Government (2002), Malawi National Land Policy.
6 UN-Habitat (2010), Malawi Urban Housing Sector Profile.
Land is administered and managed by several players: the
Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development,
the Malawi Housing Corporation, the city councils,
traditional leaders, and private entities. Serviced land
for low-income housing is scarce, forcing most people
in the urban areas to get land in unplanned settlements
using customary practices. Land management policies
and regulatory frameworks have been reviewed or
formulated in response to the challenges.
GENDER AND HIV/AIDS
The Malawi government fully recognizes that gender
equality is a globally recognized human right and that
empowerment of women is an integral part of achieving
the Millennium Development Goals7. Progress has been
made in addressing gender and HIV/AIDS issues.
The government has made consistent efforts to bring
the national HIV prevalence rate down to around 12
percent from about 21 percent. Urban areas have a
higher rate than rural areas8. HIV prevalence is projected
to reach 6 percent by 20159 .
ENVIRONMENT, URBAN DISASTER
RISK AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Malawi is endowed with environmental resources across
the country. Government at all levels, the public and
private sectors, and the city councils are responsible for
environmental management.
Deforestation around water catchment areas,
unregulated urban agriculture and indiscriminate
disposal of domestic and industrial waste are some of
the main challenges. Most people use traditional latrines
in both urban and rural areas, leading to pollution and
other environmental and public health issues.
SLUMS AND SHELTER
Housing in Malawi ranges from wattle and grass-
thatched dwellings to baked brick, cement mortar
and tile-roofed bungalows. Housing is provided by
the Malawi Housing Corporation, private companies,
and many smaller investors. The government provides
housing to its staff.
7 Eric Ning’ang’a (2011) in Travel ‘n’ Tourism, Vol. No. 1, Issue No. 3, 2011,
Public Relations Associates, Box 2535, Blantyre, Malawi.
8 National Aids Commission (August 2008), HIV and Syphilis Sero-Survey and
National HIV Prevalence and AIDS Estimates Report for 2007.
9 Malawi Government (2010), Malawi Millennium Development Goals Report.
Most of the housing stock in Malawi is constructed
through self-help initiatives, and individuals use their
own resources10. Most houses are traditional and
semi-permanent; about 21 percent are permanent.
Nationally, most houses are owner-occupied, while in
urban areas the difference between owner-occupied
and renting is small11. Rapid urbanization is one of the
major contributing factors to slum growth.
BASIC URBAN SERVICES
Potable water in Malawi is supplied by three regional
water boards and two city water boards. The 2010
national water supply access figure of 81 percent shows
that the Millennium Development Goal target of 74
percent by 2015 has already been surpassed12. The four
profiled cities had safe water accessibility rates of over
90 percent as of 2009, but accessibility in unplanned
settlements is low.
Electrical energy generated by the Electricity Supply
Corporation of Malawi accounts for at least 90 percent
of the total energy generated and used. The poor access
to electricity mainly affects low-income housing areas
and unplanned settlements; the high cost of electricity
is a deterrent for most households13.
Fixed and wireless telephone lines, cellular telephones,
telex, courier, postal, and internet services are the main
communication means in the country and are provided
by several companies.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
10 UN-Habitat (2010), Malawi Urban Housing Sector Profile.
11 National Statistical Office (2009), Welfare Monitoring Survey 2009.
12 Malawi Government (2010), 2010 Malawi Millennium Development Goals
Report.
13 Malawi Government (2010), 2010 Malawi Millennium Development Goals
Report.
77
 BACKGROUND
INTRODUCTION
The Urban Profiling
The urban profiling is an accelerated and action-oriented
urban assessment of urban conditions, focusing on
priority needs, capacity gaps, and existing institutional
responses at national and local levels. The purpose of
the study is to develop urban poverty reduction policies
at local, national, and regional levels, through an
assessment of needs and response mechanisms, and as a
contribution to the implementation of the Millennium
Development Goals. The study is based on analysis of
existing data and a series of interviews with relevant
urban stakeholders, including local communities and
institutions, civil society, the private sector, development
partners, academics, and others. This consultation
typically results in a collective agreement on priorities
and their development into proposed capacity-building
and other projects, all aimed at urban poverty reduction.
The programme is being implemented in about 30
African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, offering
an opportunity for comparative regional analysis.
Once completed, these series of studies will provide a
framework for central and local authorities and urban
actors, as well as donors and external support agencies.
METHODOLOGY
The Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme
methodology consists of three phases:
Phase one consists of a rapid participatory urban
profiling, at national and local levels. The capital city
and other cities are selected and studied to provide a
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - BACKGROUND
representative sample in each country. The analysis
focuses on seven themes: governance and financial
management, slums and shelter, gender and HIV/
AIDS, environment, urban disaster risks and climate
change, local economic development, basic urban
services, and land. Information was collected through
interviews and key informants, in order to assess the
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
(SWOTs) of the national and local urban set-ups. The
findings were presented and refined during city and
national consultation workshops, and consensus was
reached regarding priority interventions.
Phase two focuses on building the priorities identified
through the pre-feasibility studies and develops detailed
capacity-building and capital investment projects.
Phase three implements the projects developed
during the two earlier phases, with an emphasis on
skills development, institutional strengthening, and
replication.
This report presents the outcomes of the programme’s
Phase One at the national level.
88
URBAN PROFILING IN MALAWI
In Malawi, the urban profiling covered four cities:
Blantyre (the commercial capital, in the south of
Malawi), Lilongwe (the capital city, in the central
region), Mzuzu (capital of the northern region), and
Zomba (the old capital of Malawi, in the eastern region).
Each urban profile is published as a separate report.
The national consultation process is a partnership
platform co-developed with Malawi’s Ministry of Local
Government and Rural Development, Ministry of
Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, parastatal
organizations, and national and international NGOs.
The aim was to develop options for formal inter-agency
collaboration in order to create a coordination body
that integrates a wide range of urban stakeholders in a
single response mechanism.
REPORT STRUCTURE
This report consists of:
1. a general background of the urban sector in
Malawi, based on the findings of the Blantyre,
Lilongwe, Mzuzu, and Zomba assessment reports,
desk studies, interviews, and city and national
consultations during the Malawi Urban Forum II
held in Lilongwe on 27 and 28 October 2011. The
background includes data on administration, urban
planning, economy, urban poverty, sanitation, refuse
collection, health, and education.
2. a synthetic assessment of the seven main themes
– governance, local economic development,
environment, land, shelter and slums, gender and
HIV/AIDS, and basic urban services – in terms of the
institutional set-up, regulatory framework, resource
mobilization, and performance and accountability;
this second section also highlights agreed priorities
and includes a list of identified projects.
3. a SWOT analysis and outlines of priority project
proposals for each theme. The proposals include
beneficiaries, partners, estimated costs, objectives,
activities, and outputs.
BACKGROUND
URBAN CENTRES
Cities in Malawi are the engine rooms for education,
manufacturing, production, innovation, culture,
and economic activities that generate wealth and
opportunities and contribute to the national gross
domestic product. These urban centres are hosting about
15 to 20 percent1 of the national population, and over
1 National Statistical Office (2009), Population and Housing Census Main Report
2008.
60 percent of urban dwellers are living in unplanned
settlements and slums. The Department of Physical
Planning developed a hierarchy of settlements to help
implement a decentralized urbanization strategy, but
the required institutions and regulations to guide urban
development are not fully respected at all levels.
Malawi is one of the fastest urbanizing countries, and in
response to this, some policies and strategies are being
formulated to guide the future development of the
urban centres. Collaborations and partnerships among
all stakeholders in urban and national development are
key to sustaining economic growth and achieving the
Millennium Development Goals. Decentralization of
economic and planning functions, among others, to
local authorities is expected to strengthen local urban
management.
MALAWI POPULATION
Malawi has a very youthful population: nearly three-
quarters are less than 30 years of age, while those below
18 make up 52 percent of the total population. In 2008
there were 6.4 million males and 6.7 million females.
Population growth rates have been high since the 1960s,
and the productive, youthful population presents
opportunities for development. Table 1 presents the
national and urban population trends since 1966.
ADMINISTRATION
The political and administrative system in Malawi is
partially centralized and partially decentralized. The
state and government are headed by the President,
who is elected by the people. There are 193 members
of parliament from 32 districts and four cities in three
administrative regions. Bills or proposed laws are
prepared by the relevant ministries and deliberated by
the cabinet before being debated in parliament. Any bill
becomes law once passed in parliament and consented
to by the President. Since the dawn of the multiparty
political system in 1994, constitutional reviews have
resulted in structural changes in roles, functions and the
administration of the government.
Some powers and decisions have been devolved to
local authorities, but these authorities are controlled
centrally by various ministries. Executive positions are
filled by presidential appointment, while managerial
appointments are done by the Civil Service Commission
and the Local Government Service Commission. Heads
of Services are moved around in different ministries
or departments depending on the politics of the day,
compromising service delivery. Senior positions are
generally filled with qualified personnel, but capacity
gaps widen at the middle and lower staff levels.
The local authorities are responsible for the management
of government matters at the local level, but are still
limited in their powers by the slow devolution of powers
from central government. These government organs
work with other stakeholders in the management of
programmes. The Malawi Constitution mandates the
election of ward councillors through popular voting
every five years, but such elections are always postponed.
CORRUPTION
Many people view corruption as a major constraint to
development in Malawi, thereby denouncing the notion
that corruption is a natural occurrence and part of our
daily lives2. Malawi is considered to have high levels of
corruption, ranked 85 out of 178 countries. In Africa,
Malawi ranks 10 out of 47 countries3. Malawi’s score
improved in 2007, and the country has made positive
strides towards fighting corruption, which include the
following initiatives: the Corrupt Practices Act, the
National Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Office of the
Director of Public Procurement, the National Integrity
System, the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2009),
Business Action Against Corruption, and Civil Society
Action Against Corruption4.
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
Malawi has enjoyed progressive economic growth
in recent years, with an average real gross domestic
product growth rate of around 7 percent till 20095.
This followed the implementation of a number of
core policies and structural reforms in various sectors.
However, since 2009 there has been a decline in
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - BACKGROUND
official development assistance due to several issues,
and this is expected to affect development projects and
foreign direct investment. Poor economic performance
will increasingly become a central challenge for the
government and its stakeholders. With the low prices of
tobacco, the prospects seem gloomy.
URBAN PLANNING
Urban and regional planning in Malawi has traditionally
been centralized, with the Department of Physical
Planning under the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and
Urban Development taking the lead. The department
has four regional offices in Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe,
and Mzuzu, as well as the head office. The Commissioner
for Physical Planning in mandated to carry out all urban
and regional planning in Malawi6.
After 1991, urban and regional planning was devolved
to the local authorities of Mzuzu, Lilongwe, and
2 Malawi Government (February 2006), Malawi Governance and Corruption
Baseline Survey Final Main Report.
3 Transparency International (2010), Corruption Perceptions Index 2010.
4 Malawi Anti-Corruption Bureau (2009), National Anti-Corruption
5
Strategy.
Malawi Government (2008), Malawi Growth and Development Strategy
Annual Review 2008.
6 Malawi Government (1988), Town and Country Planning Act.
9 9
 Blantyre, as these had planning professionals. Through
the Local Government Act, however, all councils are
mandated to undertake planning activities. Prior to this,
the Commissioner for Physical Planning would seek to
declare fast-growing settlements as statutory planning
areas7. Town Planning Committees will therefore be
established to control planning and development in
these areas. The Planning Board is an appeals body
where developers lodge grievances emanating from
dissatisfaction with Town Planning Committees or the
commissioner. It is important to note that the whole
country is a planning area8.
URBANIZATION OF POVERTY
Malawi is experiencing one of the highest urbanization
rates in Africa, at about 4.7 percent, and it is expected
that the urbanization of poverty will follow the same
trend. However, the national poverty rate in Malawi
decreased from 52 percent in 2004 to 39 percent in
2009, while urban poverty declined from 25 percent in
2004 to about 14 percent in 2009. The rural poverty
rate has gone down from 53 percent in 2005 to around
43 percent in 20099. The proportion of the ultra-poor
has also decreased in general. However, it is noted that,
as of January 2010, about 4 million people slid deeper
into poverty due to increasing food and fuel prices10.
SANITATION AND REFUSE COLLECTION
The Department of Water in the Ministry of Irrigation
and Water Development leads the water and sanitation
sector, mainly on policy development. However, various
government agencies and international organizations
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - BACKGROUND
are involved in different aspects of the sector and
usually work independently11. Local governments are
responsible for sanitation services, including solid waste
and refuse management.
About 80 percent of Malawians use traditional pit
latrines, and 13 percent have no facility. In urban
areas, about 15 percent use flush toilets; this drops to 3
percent nationally and 0.7 percent in rural areas. About
1.7 percent of urban dwellers had no sanitation facility
in 200812.
7 Malawi Government (1998), Local Government Act and Decentralisation Policy
(1998).
8 Malawi Government (2002), National Land Policy.
9 National Statistical Office (2008), Integrated Household Survey II Report
2004/2005 and National Statistical Office (2009), Welfare Monitoring Survey
2009.
10 African Development Bank (2010), Supplementary Loan for Support to Local
Economic Development Project, Malawi, Project Appraisal Report.
11 Manda, M. A. Z. (2009), Water and Sanitation in Urban Malawi: Can the
Millennium Development Goals Be Met? A study of Informal Settlements in
Three Cities.
12 National Statistical Office (2010), Housing and Housing Conditions
2010.
10
10
HEALTH
Malawi is said to have a good network of health
facilities provided by various players, including central
government, local governments, the Christian Health
Association of Malawi, and private companies. The
health facilities totalled 843 in 2002. There are four
central or referral hospitals located in the four profiled
cities, and 22 district hospitals. The central government
provided almost half of all health facilities, while the
Christian Health Association of Malawi provided about
20 percent and local government 4 percent. About 85
percent of the facilities are primary health centres, and
about 85 percent of the population is said to be living
within 10 kilometres of a health facility13. The private
sector, which is more urban and driven by profit-
making, is growing fast and contributing significantly
to the sector.
Traditional healers and traditional birth attendants
still play a role in providing health services. Malaria,
lower respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases,
tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS are the most common
diseases14. Human, financial and technical capacities
are major challenges, and there is a need to improve
the coordination of health services by providing health
facilities at strategic locations.
EDUCATION
Malawi’s three-tier education system is offered by both
public and private institutions. Public primary school
education has been free since 1994, and enrolment
soared from 1.9 million to 2.9 million by 1997, and
to 3.6 million by 2008. The four profiled cities had an
average student-teacher ratio of 46:115. Countrywide,
the student-teacher ratio for secondary schools stood at
20:1 in 2008. The primary enrolment rate is projected
to reach 92 percent by 2015, missing the Millennium
Development Goal target by 8 percent16.
In 2008, the recognized tertiary institutions produced
about 8,388 graduates. Data for private school
enrolment was not available, and the quality of
education is not assessed in most private schools. Most
private schools lack proper infrastructure, adequate
instructional materials and qualified teachers.
13 The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (2008), Malawi
National Health Accounts with Sub-accounts for HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis
and Malaria.
14 Bowie, Cameron (2006), ‘The Burden of Disease in Malawi’ in Malawi Medical
Journal, 18(3): 103-110, September 2006.
15 National Statistical Office (2009), Statistical Yearbook.
16 Malawi Government (2010), 2010 Malawi Millennium Development Goals
Report.
TABLE 1: NATIONAL AND URBAN POPULATION TRENDS IN MALAWI

YEAR POPULATION MEAN URBAN MEAN URBANIZATION MEAN

ANNUAL POPULATION URBAN LEVEL (% OF RURAL
GROWTH ANNUAL NATIONAL ANNUAL
RATE (%) GROWTH POPULATION GROWTH
(%) IN URBAN RATE (%)
AREAS)
1966 4,039,583 3.30 209,327* 6.76* 5.210* 2.32*
1977 5,547,460 2.90 466,081* 6.63* 8.4* 2.97*
1987 7,988,507 3.70 850,000 7.83* 10.70 4.94*
1998 9,933,868 2.00 1,400,000 4.70 14.40 2.63*
2008 13,077,160 2.80 2,003,309 5.20 15.30 2.18*
2015 16,310,431 3.15 4,048,000* 5.32* 22.50* 1.84*
2020 19,104,275 3.17 5,240,000* 5.16* 25.50* 1.52*
2030 26,090,975 3.06 8,395,000* 4.54* 32.40* 1.17*
Sources: National Statistical Office (1999), Population and Housing Census Main Report 1998; National Statistical Office (2009), Population
and Housing Census Main Report 2008; United Nations Population Division (2009), World Population Prospects: The 2009 Revision Popula-
tion Database.

MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - BACKGROUND

1111
 GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Malawi’s democracy is young, with a constitution
that enshrines separation of powers, independence of
constitutional bodies, and rule of law, and a human rights
charter that entrenches the right to equality, liberty and
development. There is an impressive set of constitutional
bodies, which includes the Anti-Corruption Bureau,
Human Rights Commission, Law Commission, and
Ombudsman. Democracy was further consolidated
through presidential and parliamentary elections in
1994, 1999, 2004, and 2009 and local government
elections in 2000. The country has also undertaken a
decentralization process with support from UNDP and
other development partners such as the German Agency
for International Cooperation.
Malawi has made significant strides towards democratic
governance since 1994 through increasing support to
civic education, affirming the rights and obligations of
Malawi citizens, and furthering an understanding of
the democratic process. The Millennium Development
Goals highlight good governance as good public sector
management, the absence of corruption and fraud,
decentralization, justice and rule of law, security, good
corporate governance, and respect of human rights.
Good governance is seen as a means to attaining
economic prosperity and reducing poverty17. However,
local government elections have been postponed several
times, and it is expected that they will be held in 2014.
Despite the progress made, the country has some
serious democratic governance challenges, including
17 Malawi Government (2006), Malawi Growth and Development Strategy 2006-
2011.
12
12
high levels of corruption, inadequate transparency
and accountability systems, poor access to justice by
the majority, limited capacity in the public sector for
improved service delivery, political intolerance, poor
adherence to the rule of law, lack of constitutionalism,
human rights abuses, and reluctance to hold local
government elections. In addition, the participation
of Malawians in the political affairs of the country has
largely been limited to voting18.
The Malawi government is, however, committed to
improving justice, the rule of law and internal security
as the core issues of democratic governance. There are
legal, institutional, infrastructural, systemic, procedural,
and human resource-related challenges faced by those
providing the services, leading to poor justice delivery,
especially for the vulnerable and marginalized19.
The Ministry of Local Government and Rural
Development implements – in collaboration with
local authorities and development partners –
programmes and projects that include the National
Decentralization Programme (1998), Malawi
Decentralized Governance Programme (2002–2008),
Poverty Reduction Project (2000–2007), Malawi-
German Programme for Democratic Decentralization
since 1996, Rural Livelihood Economic Enhancement
Programme (2005), One Village One Product, Rural
Livelihood Support Programme, Income Generating
Public Works Programme, Malawi Rural Transport
18 UNDP Malawi (2009), Enhancing Participatory Democracy, Strengthening
Decentralized Governance and Increasing Access to Justice.
19 United Nations Malawi (November 2010), Malawi Country Assessment Report
2010.
and Travel Programme (2007–2011), and Malawi
Local Government Strengthening and Investment
Programme20.
INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP
t
The Ministry of Local Government and Rural
Development is the overall overseer and controls
budgetary matters of the council through the Local
Government Finance Committee.
t
City councils spearhead governance issues at the
local level, headed by the mayor and supported by
ward councillors and members of parliament, while
the chief executive officer heads the secretariat,
assisted by directors of departments.
t
Stakeholders such as NGOs and community-based
formulation, etc.) is weak.
t
Weak accountability and transparency and
increasing corruption and inefficiency.
t
Weak monitoring and evaluation system for
measuring performance against set benchmarks,
resulting in inefficiency and poor performance in
city management, revenue collection and financial
management.
t
Poor coordination with other key urban stakeholders,
compounding resource wastage and duplicating
efforts.
t
Weak regulatory frameworks to regulate service
provision, especially for low-income areas.

MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

organizations participate in governing and managing
the city.
t
Community Development Committees provide the
most valuable links for grass-roots participation in
the decision-making processes of the council.
t
City councils also work in close collaboration with
donor agencies and other stakeholders.
RESOURCE MOBILIZATION
t
The Malawi government is the main financier,
assisted by donors in various programmes and
projects.
t
Major local authorities depend on property taxes,
rentals, government grants, donations, and ceded
revenue.

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
t
The Malawi Constitution, Local Government
Act (1998), and National Decentralization Policy
(1998) are the main statutes.
t
Other important laws and policies are the Town and
Country Planning Act (1988), Public Procurement
Act and Audit Act.
AGREED PRIORITIES
t
Enhanced revenue generation and collection
strategies for local authorities.
t
Building the capacity of the local authorities
and their stakeholders in participatory urban
management.

t
Promoting decentralization and improving good

PERFORMANCE AND governance in local governments.

ACCOUNTABILLITY t
Supporting the formulation and implementation

t
Misunderstanding of the urban and rural settings of service delivery charters at the local level.
bring confusion as traditional leaders are involved in
urban land management.
t
Poor service delivery by local authorities and poor GOVERNANCE Project proposal Page 36
tax base for the councils. AND FINANCIAL
Local Authority Capacity Building
MANAGEMENT
t
Conflict of interest between the political arm and N°1 Programme
local authority itself (councillors and technical
officers) in implementing local authority operations.
GOVERNANCE Project proposal Page 36
t
Land administration is challenged by the multiplicity
of landlords. AND FINANCIAL
National Urban Observatory
MANAGEMENT
t
Grass-roots participation in decision making N°2 Programme
(budgeting, development planning by-law
20 Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (6 July 2011).

1313
 SLUMS AND SHELTER
Housing construction in Malawi ranges from
traditional to permanent. There are public housing
providers such as Malawi Housing Corporation. Private
housing providers that cater for the medium and
higher income groups include Press Properties Limited,
Maone Park Limited and Kanengo Northgate. The low-
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - SLUMS AND SHELTER
income or urban poor groups are assisted by NGOs
such as the Centre for Community Organization and
Development, Malawi Homeless People’s Federation
and Habitat for Humanity Malawi1. The Ministry of
Lands, Housing and Urban Development and local
authorities provide plots for housing and other uses.
Other government entities, including the Ministry of
Defence and the Malawi Police Service, provide housing
to their employees. Most of the low-cost housing stock
in Malawi is constructed through self-help initiatives
and individuals using own resources2.
Malawi is among the fastest urbanizing countries
in Africa, with a rate of 4.7 percent and an urban
population of about 20 percent3. This is contributing to
the spread of unplanned settlements and consequently
affecting the provision of basic urban services, including
housing. The slum population as a percentage of the
urban population stood at about 68 percent in 2009,
down from 95 percent in 1990, and is projected to reach
65 percent by 20154. In 2001, the slum population in
Malawi was 1.5 million5, and it has likely surpassed 2
million by now6.
1 UN-Habitat (2010), Malawi Urban Housing Sector Profile.
2 UN-Habitat (2010), Malawi Urban Housing Sector Profile.
3 National Statistical Office (2010), Spatial Distribution and Urbanization
2010.
4 Malawi Government (2010), 2010 Malawi Millennium Development Goals
Report.
5 UN-Habitat (2003), Slums of the World: The Face of Poverty in the New
Millennium.
6 United Nations Population Division (2009), World Population Prospects: The
2009 Revision Population Database.
14
14
At the national level, about 21 percent of housing is
permanent, 34 percent is semi-permanent and 44
percent is traditional, while at the urban level, 41
percent is permanent, 46 percent is semi-permanent
and 12 percent is traditional or temporary. In rural
Malawi, 50 percent of housing is traditional while only
18 percent is permanent7. Most occupants (88 percent)
own their units, while 4 percent own or pay rent on
theirs. At the urban level, about 52 percent of the units
are owner-occupied while 43 percent are rentals8. Tenure
disparities between planned and unplanned settlements
are minimal9. In terms of gender, the tenure-related
differences in most urban centres are not big.
Unplanned settlements in Malawi are the result of
scarcity of serviced land for housing; poor maintenance of
services and infrastructure is leading to slum conditions
in many traditional housing areas. The memorandum
of understanding between the Malawi government
and the Centre for Community Organization and
Development is a step forward if put to good use. The
Draft National Housing Policy 2010 has included the
upgrading of slums as a focus area.
7 National Statistical Office (2010), Housing and Housing Conditions
2010.
8 National Statistical Office (2009), Welfare Monitoring Survey 2009.
9 Blantyre City Assembly (2006), Situation Analysis of Informal Settlements in
Blantyre City.
ONGOING PROJECTS
The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban
Development is involved in the development of houses
for police and army officers and chiefs, but not housing
for the public.
The Malawi Housing Corporation is implementing
housing projects in Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu,
Zomba, and Karonga. All the projects are in medium-
and low-density categories, including hostels at Mzuzu
University (not yet started).
The Centre for Community Organization and
Development and the Malawi Homeless People’s
Federation is implementing several programmes in
various thematic areas:
t
The slum-upgrading programme in Chinsapo and
Mtandire, in collaboration with Lilongwe City
Council and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation,
t
Housing projects through the Mchenga Fund in
Blantyre, Kasungu, Mzuzu, and Salima,
t
Sanitation programme supported by UN-Habitat
and the Department for International Development,
t
Skills and livelihoods programme supported by
Unilever South Africa,
t
Batik production project in Mtandire in Lilongwe.
Habitat for Humanity Malawi is implementing projects
in Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu, and some rural areas.
Over 7,000 houses have been built. New projects
include the construction of 650 houses at Lupaso in
Mzuzu and more in Blantyre.
INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP
t
The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban
Development leads housing and urban development
at the national level.
t
The Ministry of Local Government and Rural
Development facilitates housing and urban
development at the local level.
t
Malawi Housing Corporation, local authorities,
Habitat for Humanity Malawi, and Malawi
Homeless People’s Federation provide land or
housing in the cities.
t
Private companies include Press Properties Limited,
Maone Park Limited, Kanengo Northgate, and
other small investors and developers.
t
Local chiefs involve themselves in the allocation of
land for housing and other uses.
t
Other NGOs, community-based organizations and
financial institutions are increasingly entering the
low-cost housing sector.
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
t
The Land Act, Lands Acquisition Act, Registered
Land Act, Conveyancing Act, Land Development
Act, Town and Country Planning Act, Environmental
Management Act, Local Government Act, Malawi
Housing Act, Public Procurement Act, Corrupt
Practices Act, Public Management Act, Road Works
Act, Electricity Act, and many others provide
guidance.
t
A draft housing policy is in place, which is
inadequate.
t
Other sectoral regulations exist for land and housing.
PERFORMANCE AND
ACCOUNTABILITY
t
Inappropriate legal frameworks are complicating the
implementation of some projects in urban areas.
t
The absence of a functional housing policy leaves
a vacuum in housing development and slum
upgrading.
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - SLUMS AND SHELTER
t
Weak coordination among key stakeholders in land
and housing is leading to inefficient performance.
t
Involvement of chiefs in land administration in
planning areas is complicating urban management.
t
The absence of service charters and strategic plans
complicates the implementation of certain thematic
programmes.
t
A local urban forum is needed where urban
issues can be debated and action agreed upon for
implementation.
t
The existing infrastructure and services in high-
density areas are not maintained, leading to slum
conditions.
t
Land for high-density housing and traditional
housing areas is often made available in marginal
areas.
t
Planning laws, building regulations and low capacity
are constraining low-income housing development.
t
The government takes a backseat role in the
slum-upgrading process and does not commit or
contribute enough.
t
The increasing cost of construction and scarcity of
15
15
 housing finance contribute to the construction of
poor quality housing and slums.
t
Poor land information management systems at all
levels of government are leading to inefficiency,
fraud, corruption, and the lengthy and costly
processing of land issues.
t
Formal land markets are not affordable to the
majority, making informal and traditional markets
favourable.
t
Government involvement and defaults on rentals,
other fees and financing are crippling housing
institutions and projects in Malawi.
AGREED PRIORITIES
t
Managing the National Housing Framework.
t
Providing adequate housing for all and improving
public housing services.
t
Creating an environment in the housing sector
that is conducive to both public and private
investment and development.
t
Supporting and promoting urban poor initiatives
in various thematic areas that impact their
livelihoods.

t
Mobilizing the poor to work together and address

TENURE
t
All landowners should streamline the land acquisition
processes to ease accessibility for all income groups.
t
Plot owners in traditional housing areas are issued
with temporary lease documents, which may limit
significant investments.
t
Insecure tenure exists, as most plots and land are not
registered because the registration system is long and
expensive.
their challenges together.
t
Influencing and contributing towards policy
formulation for urban poor issues.
t
Intensifying debt or rent collection management.
t
Capacity building for key departments and
stakeholders.

Project proposal Page 38

MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - SLUMS AND SHELTER

RESOURCE MOBILIZATION SLUMS AND

SHELTER National Participatory Slum Upgrading
t
The Malawi government is the main funding N°1 Programme
institution of the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and
Urban Development.
t
The Malawi Housing Corporation and local
authorities mostly depend on resources generated
from property rentals, property taxes, development
charges, survey fees, and valuation fees, which are
inadequate for investing in meaningful housing
programmes.
t
The Malawi Housing Corporation also depends
on loans from banks and international financing
institutions.
t
Private players in the housing industry depend on
their own resources and loans to implement housing
projects.
t
NGOs, community-based organizations and other
players depend on donations and contributions
from members and well-wishers to finance housing
and slum-upgrading programmes.
t
Financial lending institutions should be encouraged
to support low-income housing programmes at low
interest rates and with minimum conditions.

16
16
GENDER AND HIV/AIDS
The recognition that gender equality is a human right
and that empowerment of women is an integral part
of achieving the Millennium Development Goals
called for a more concerted effort by the Malawi
government through various initiatives, including the
50/50 Campaign1. Through some of these initiatives,
the number of women parliamentarians rose from 14
percent to 22 percent in the 2009 elections. Gender
and HIV/AIDS issues are treated as cross-cutting at all
government levels.
About 62 percent of the national population (52 percent
of them females) was not receiving any education. The
38 percent attending an educational institution were
almost equally split between females and males in both
rural and urban areas2. Primary school attendance was
the highest (86 percent), and university was the lowest
(0.2 percent), as shown in Figure 1.
The national HIV prevalence is around 12 percent,
with urban areas the highest at 17 percent, semi-urban
areas at 16.4 percent, and rural areas at 12.1 percent.
Generally, there has been a decline in prevalence from
22.8 percent in 1999 to 13.5 percent in 20073. HIV
prevalence is expected to reach 6 percent by 2015
if more efforts are directed towards combating the
1 Eric Ning’ang’a (2011) in Travel ‘n’ Tourism, Vol. No. 1, Issue No. 3, 2011,
Public Relations Associates, Box 2535, Blantyre, Malawi.
2 National Statistical Office (2011), Education and Literacy Report 2010.
3 National Aids Commission (August 2008), HIV and Syphilis Sero-Survey and
National HIV Prevalence and AIDS Estimates Report for 2007.
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - GENDER AND HIV/AIDS
epidemic4. The prevalence rate among uneducated
Malawians was 16 percent, while prevalence was 14.8
percent among those with at least a primary education.
Widowed women had a higher prevalence rate (42.9
percent) than divorced, separated or married women5.
HIV prevalence is also higher in persons who are drivers,
professional or skilled workers, military or police. HIV
prevalence increases with age up to 34 years then starts
to decline6.
Most economic activities are dominated by males,
even though women have a higher organizational
capability than men to form business groups and
obtain loans from microfinance institutions. There
are also deliberate efforts to put women in leadership
positions on development committees. The private
sector, civil society, community-based organizations,
and faith-based organizations are active in gender and
HIV/AIDS. In general, gender inequalities still prevail
in many areas, including higher education, literacy,
employment, ownership of assets and housing, and
access to basic services7. Gender-based violence is
one of the major challenges faced in the cities, and
various institutions (e.g. the police service) are making
strides to reduce violence against women by providing
4 Malawi Government (2010), 2010 Malawi Millennium Development Goals
Report.
5 National Aids Commission (August 2008), HIV and Syphilis Sero-Survey and
National HIV Prevalence and AIDS Estimates Report for 2007.
6 National Aids Commission (August 2008), HIV and Syphilis Sero-Survey and
National HIV Prevalence and AIDS Estimates Report for 2007.
7 National Statistical Office (2011), Gender Report, 2010.
1717
 victim support services, developing gender policies
for the workplace, sensitizing staff at all levels, and
advocating for women’s rights on various issues, etc.
There are numerous challenges: inadequate financial
resources; reaching very rural areas, affluent groups, and
minorities; inadequate human resources; inadequate
reporting mechanisms; and an absence of appropriate
legal frameworks.
t
There are public and private institutions that offer
voluntary counselling and testing services.
t
NGOs, community- and faith-based organizations,
civil society, and the private sector are actively
involved in gender and HIV/AIDS issues.

FIGURE 1: SCHOOL ATTENDANCE IN MALAWI 2008

100.00
90.00
80.00
70.00
60.00
PERCENTAGE%

50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
-
Malawi Urban Rural Male Male Male Female Female Female
Urban Rural Urban Rural
PRIMARY 86.30 14.70 15,941 15,966 14.60 83.40 50.50 14.80 85.20
PRE-SCHOOL 4.90 23.70 76.30 48.40 24.00 76.00 51.60 23.30 76.70
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - GENDER AND HIV/AIDS

SECONDARY 8.00 39.90 60.10 51.90 38.10 61.90 48.10 41.80 58.20
UNIVERSITY 0.20 73.60 26.40 61.90 70.10 29.90 38.10 79.30 20.70
OTHER 0.40 77.80 22.20 56.50 75.20 24.80 43.50 81.10 18.90

ONGOING PROJECTS REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

There are a variety of skill development, income-
generating, and health programmes for empowering
women: functional literacy for integrated development;
safer livelihoods; HIV/AIDS treatment through care,
support, mobilization, and sensitization; mobile
voluntary counselling and testing services for remote
areas; and community-based HIV/AIDS initiatives.
These projects are implemented by the concerned
ministries and departments, including the National
AIDS Commission and the Malawi AIDS Counselling
and Resource Organization.
INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP
t
The Ministry of Gender, Child Development, and
Community Development is the lead actor at the
national level.
t
The Ministry of Health takes the lead on HIV/
AIDS issues through the Department of Nutrition
and HIV/AIDS.
t
The National Gender Policy, National HIV/AIDs
Policy, National Girls and Women HIV/AIDS
Equality Framework (June 2011), National AIDS
Framework (2011–2013), HIV and AIDS Bill
(awaiting approval), Wills and Inheritance Act, and
Child Rights Protection Bill (awaiting approval).
t
Other legal statutes include social policy.
PERFORMANCE AND
ACCOUNTABILITY
t
Commemoration of International Women’s Day
since 1997 to create awareness on the contribution of
women to their societies and national development.
t
About 52 percent of females and 48 percent of males
are not attending school, while the figure is almost
equal for those attending school.
t
Increasing sex education is leading to a reduction in
unwanted pregnancies and school dropouts.

1818
t
The absence of local gender policies is weakening
efforts to address related issues.
t
Limited resources and equipment, as funding for
gender and HIV/AIDS is inadequate.
t
Enactment of national gender and HIV/AIDS
policies is a step in the right direction, as prevalence
is declining.
t
Better voluntary counselling and testing services
through mobile services, as prevalence seem to be
high in district centres.
t
Need to improve awareness and information
dissemination on gender, gender-based violence, and
HIV/AIDS at all levels and enhance coordination
among key stakeholders.
t
Various NGOs, community and faith-based
organizations, donors, private sector players, and
community-based support groups are addressing
prevention, treatment, care, support, and impact
mitigation issues relating to HIV/AIDS.
RESOURCE MOBILIZATION
t
Malawi government funding, through the National
Aids Commission, the Centre for Disease Control,
World Bank, World Health Organization,
UNAIDS, Canada, the European Union, the Global
Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria,
the Department for International Development,
Norway, and USAID, among others.
t
NGOs, community and faith-based organizations,
and other stakeholders use their own resources for
gender and HIV/AIDS activities.
AGREED PRIORITIES
t
Advocating and improving early child
development through community-based child
centres and nursery schools.
t
Gender mainstreaming, including gender-based
violence initiatives and youth programmes
targeting adolescents.
t
Improving social welfare and community
development issues at the national level.
t
Improving the monitoring and evaluation of
HIV/AIDS at all levels in both urban and rural
areas.
t
Increasing voluntary counselling and testing and
antiretroviral therapy services.
t
Encouraging prevention of HIV/AIDS
through the operationalization of the Resource
Mobilization Strategy.
t
Encouraging men to participate fully in gender
and HIV/AIDS programmes.
t
Providing the necessary infrastructure and
services for small and medium-sized enterprises.
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - GENDER AND HIV/AIDS
GENDER AND Project proposal Page 40
HIV/AIDS Rehabilitation and upgrading of
N°1 urban community health facilities
1919
 ENVIRONMENT, URBAN DISASTER
RISKS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - ENVIRONMENT, URBAN DISASTER RISKS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Malawi is rich in natural resources but is facing
environmental degradation. Population growth
and rapid urbanization are increasing the demand
for affordable energy sources and land, which puts
pressure on these natural resources. The undulating
topography of the country, including the major
urban centres, is sensitive to slight imbalances in the
environment. Inadequate alternative livelihoods, old
energy technologies, and pollution from pit latrines,
septic tanks, industrial effluent, and vehicles are having
a negative impact on the environment.
Malawi is said to have lost about 494,000 hectares
of forest cover. It is projected that if the current rate
of deforestation is not reversed, Malawi’s forest cover
will drop to about 33 percent by 20151, against a
Millennium Development Goal target of 50 percent.
The government is committed to reversing the loss of
forest cover by intensifying reforestation, afforestation,
natural regeneration, and forest protection and
management programmes2.
Most people in Malawi use firewood (80 percent); in
urban areas, more charcoal is used (46 percent). Paraffin
is the most common energy source for lighting, at 77
percent. Use of electricity for lighting ranges from 32
to 45 percent in the major urban areas, though this
1 Malawi Government (2010), 2010 Malawi Millennium Development Goals
Report.
2 Malawi Government (2010), 2010 Malawi Millennium Development Goals
Report.
2020
figure is only 14 percent nationally. There are no major
differences between males and females in the use of
these energy sources3.
Specific regulations and by-laws to address unplanned
settlements, environmental degradation and waste
management are not in place, resulting in indiscriminate
liquid and solid waste discharge and disposal into
water catchment areas, rivers, forests, and along roads.
Climate change is compounding these challenges.
ONGOING PROJECTS
Past or ongoing programmes include the following:
biodiversity projects; climate change programmes;
forest conservation projects; soil and water conservation
projects; renewable energy programmes; water
catchment areas conservation programmes; improved
forestry management for sustainable livelihoods;
forestry, nursery, and replanting programmes; tree
planting for carbon sequestration and other uses; and
ecosystem services. These programmes are funded by
various donors and organizations, and many more
stakeholders are involved in the implementation.
3 National Statistical Office (2009), Welfare Monitoring Survey 2009.
FIGURE 2: DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLDS BY MAIN ENERGY SOURCES FOR COOKING
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
PERCENTAGE
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
MALAWI URBAN RURAL MZUZU LILONGWE ZOMBA BLANTYRE
CITY
INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP
t
The Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment,
and Energy takes the lead on environmental issues
at the national level.
t
The Departments of Environmental Affairs, Forestry,
and Climate Change play a major role.
t
City and town councils are the lead actors at the
local level.
t
Malawi Environmental Endowment Trust works
with other institutions on environmental projects.
t
The Department of Disaster Management Affairs is
relevant to environmental issues.
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
The Malawi Constitution, Environmental Management
Act (1996), National Environmental Action Plan,
Forestry Act, Forestry Policy, Local Government Act,
Town and Country Planning Act, Environmental
Impact Assessment Guidelines, City Urban
Structure Plans, Environmental Guidelines (1997),
Environmental Action Plans (District Level), Water
Resources Act, Water and Sanitation Guidelines, Public
Health Act, and Refuse and Rubble Disposal by-laws
are the major guiding frameworks, with a number of
additional by-laws, policies, and regulations, including
disaster management policy and law.
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - ENVIRONMENT, URBAN DISASTER RISKS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
ELECTRICITY
PARAFFIN
CHARCOAL
FIREWOOD
OTHER
CITY CITY CITY
PERFORMANCE AND
ACCOUNTABILITY
t
Inappropriate legal instruments have been overtaken
by events and need to be updated.
t
Most programmes have funding challenges and do
not always fully meet set goals.
t
The complexity of the environment makes it difficult
to fully comprehend.
t
Malawians have a poor attitude and poor awareness
about the environment and the benefits of proper
environmental management.
t
Major developments require environmental impact
assessments to minimize environmental degradation,
but the application of the existing guidelines is
weak, as the government itself does not observe this
requirement.
t
Environmental management improvement
programmes are poorly coordinated.
t
Poor waste management results in pollution and
waste heaps.
t
Weak coordination among NGOs, community-
based organizations, and other stakeholders in project
implementation on environmental management,
as adequate resources and an environmental
management plan are lacking.
t
Weak capacity to ensure that marginal/fragile land is
protected from unwarranted developments.
2121
 t
Inadequate capacity to manage the environment. ENVIRONMENT, Project proposal Page 42
Forestry-related capacity is expected to improve with
URBAN DISASTER
the introduction of forestry degree programmes at
Mzuzu University. RISKS AND CLIMATE Urban Forestry / Environmental
CHANGE Management Programme
N°1

RESOURCE MOBILIZATION
t
Government funding is normally inadequate to
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - ENVIRONMENT, URBAN DISASTER RISKS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

meaningfully address environmental issues.

t
Malawi Environmental Endowment Trust provides
funding for environment-related projects and
scholarships for capacity building.
t
Private environmental and waste disposal services
are expensive, and there is a need for affordable
services.
t
Public–private partnerships can carry out projects
in environmental protection, conservation and
restoration.
t
Donors such as USAID, the European Union,
the Department for International Development,
the African Development Bank, the Global
Environment Facility and provide resources through
specific projects.
t
NGOs and community-based organizations use
their own resources from donors for environmental
management activities.

AGREED PRIORITIES
t
Conducting environmental audits and
formulating environmental action plans.

t
Operationalizing and reviewing existing legal

frameworks to address current issues, as well as
putting in place an environmental planning and
land use policy.

t
Improving capacity in environmental planning,

waste management and research at all levels.

t
Conducting environmental impact assessments

for each and every development project,
regardless of developer, and also controlling
pollution.

t
Conducting public education and awareness

campaigns on environmental issues.

2222
LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Malawi’s economy is predominantly agricultural, with
tobacco, tea, sugar, and coffee being the most traded
products. About 80 percent of the population are
engaged in subsistence farming. About 9 percent are
self-employed and 3 percent are in the private and public
sectors. In urban areas, private business represents about
20 percent of employment, farming 30 percent, the
public sector 11 percent, and self-employment (mostly
informal) 32 percent. In rural areas, farming accounted
for 86 percent, while self-employment accounted for 6
percent1.
Malawi’s main economic activities are agriculture,
forestry, and fishing (83 percent), followed by wholesale,
retail, marketing, and hospitality activities (7 percent),
and finally social and community services (4 percent).
The growing mining sector is expected to contribute
to local economic development, especially in northern
Malawi.
Tourism is becoming economically important, and
the number of tourists visiting the country grew
by 233 percent between 2000 and 20092. Many
investment opportunities exist in the accommodation,
entertainment and food sectors to support tourism.
1 National Statistical Office (2009), Welfare Monitoring Survey 2009.
2 National Statistical Office (2009), 2009 Tourism Report.
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The national poverty rate in Malawi decreased from
52 percent in 2004 to 39 percent in 20093 , while the
urban poverty rate decreased from 25 percent in 2004
to 11 percent in 2007, and then increased to 14 percent.
The national ultra-poor rate declined from 22 percent
to stabilize at 15 percent through to 2009. Urban and
rural ultra-poor rates have been reducing gradually, but
slightly increased in 2008 and 2009 . The declining
poverty rates may be attributed to the bumper maize
yields and the growing economy. However, poverty rates
are gradually increasing and the African Development
Bank indicates that about 4 million people slid deeper
into poverty as of January 2010 due to increasing food
and fuel prices4. This trend may continue, as global
tobacco prices are decreasing.
ONGOING PROJECTS
SUPPORT TO LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT IN MALAWI
The Malawi government is implementing the USD
26 million Support to Local Economic Development
Project to promote sustainable economic growth and
poverty reduction, in line with the Malawi Growth and
Development Strategy. The project is implemented in
3 National Statistical Office (2009), Welfare Monitoring Survey 2009.
4 National Statistical Office (2009), Welfare Monitoring Survey 2009.
2323
 FIGURE 3: MALAWI POVERTY STATUS 2009 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
60 t
The Integrated Trade and Industry Policy
50
(1998), Local Government Act (1998), Corrupt
Practices Act, Malawi Constitution, Taxation Act,
40 Decentralization Policy (1998), and Town and
30 Country Planning Act (1988) guide economic
PERCENTAGE

development, along with local by-laws, urban

20
structure plans (where in existence), planning
10 policies and proposals, and other statutes.

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 t
Public–private partnerships are not common and
Malawi Poor 52 50 45 40 40 39
should be considered to create more investment
Urban Poor 25 24 25 11 13 14
opportunities.
Rural Poor - 53 47 44 44 43
t
Generally, there are no pro-poor or deliberate
Malawi Ultra-poor 22 21 17 15 15 15 gender-oriented local economic development
Urban Ultra-poor 8 8 6 2 3 3 policies in place.
Rural Ultra-poor - 23 19 17 17 17

four rural growth centres: Jenda in Mzimba, Malomo PERFORMANCE AND

in Ntchisi, Monkey Bay in Mangochi, and Chitekesa
in Phalombe. The core activities of the project include ACCOUNTABILITY
providing basic socio-economic infrastructure, t
Inadequate infrastructure and services limit
improving agricultural productivity and developing economic growth and poverty reduction.
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

capacity for local economic development through

entrepreneurship and skills development. The project
started in 2008 and will end in 20155.
INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP
t
The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Private Sector
Development leads local economic development
efforts at the national level.
t
Local authorities champion
development at the local level.
t
The One Village One Product initiative creates
opportunities at national and local levels.
t
Public-private partnerships in local economic
development exist in some areas.
t
Some NGOs, community-based organizations
and faith-based organizations are involved in local
economic development.
t
Some finance and microfinance lending institutions
(the Malawi Rural Finance Company, the Malawi
Rural Development Fund, etc.) are supporting local
economic development through business loans and
capacity building of low-income groups and small
and medium-sized enterprises.
5 African Development Bank (2010), Supplementary Loan for Support to Local
Economic Development Project, Malawi, Project Appraisal Report.
t
Serviced investment plots are not affordable to most
low-income groups, hence hindering local economic
development.
t
High dependence on public sector jobs and small
and medium-sized enterprises is affecting economic
development negatively.
t
Poor legal frameworks and land use planning
provisions for urban agriculture.
local economic
t
Weak communication and consultations among
government, the private sector, and small and
medium-sized enterprises.
t
Poor formal and informal economy integration to
optimize employment potential.
t
There is a need for local economic development
coordination, public–private partnerships, and
pooling of funds.
t
Enforcing existing regulations without providing
alternative infrastructure and basic urban services is
failing to reduce illegal vending and hawking.
t
The current regulatory frameworks for accessing
credit do not favour the low-income earner and
marginalize the majority.
t
Individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises
access loans from microfinance institutions, but the
amounts are not adequate and have high interest
rates.

2424
t
Some microfinance institutions such as Malawi
Rural Finance Company offer basic training for those
wanting to get loans to support small businesses.
RESOURCE MOBILIZATION
t
The government and local authorities largely
depend on a small revenue base and cannot invest
significantly in local economic development
infrastructure and services using their own funds.
t
The government borrows from other financing
institutions such as the African Development Bank.
t
Institutions such as Press Trust have provided funds
for the construction of flea markets in Lilongwe,
Mzuzu, Zomba, and Blantyre to supplement
existing markets, and such initiatives must be
explored further.
AGREED PRIORITIES
t
Strengthening the capacity of the ministry
and departments dealing with industry, trade
and private sector development at all levels to
promote local economic development.
t
Providing local economic development
infrastructure and services to support the
growth of small and medium-sized enterprises in
Malawi.
t
Provision of serviced land and infrastructure for
commerce and industrial investments.
t
Promoting public–private partnerships at all
levels with a win-win result.

Project proposal Page 44

LOCAL ECONOMIC
Provision of local economic
DEVELOPMENT
N°1 development infrastructure for small

MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

and medium-sized enterprises

2525
 BASIC URBAN SERVICES
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - BASIC URBAN SERVICES
The responsibility for infrastructure and service
provision is shared by the central government and local
authorities, as mandated by various legal frameworks.
The central government provides these through various
ministries and parastatals. These services include
firefighting, roads, sewerage, waste management,
sanitation, health, markets, education, safety and
security, and recreation, among others. Most of the
services are insufficient in most areas, due to inadequate
resources and low capacity. High-density, low-income
housing areas are the least serviced.
In terms of public transport, Malawi has witnessed an
upsurge in large buses for long-distance travel, minibuses
and taxis. Bicycle taxis are a common sight in Mzuzu and
are on the rise in Lilongwe. Generally, vehicular traffic is
increasing, and there is a need for more effective traffic
management regulations. Pedestrian walkways, cycle
paths, safe zebra crossings, and street furniture must be
provided or improved. Increasing numbers of cyclists
on the roads have created traffic congestion, resulting
in increased accidents. There is need for an integrated
transportation system in urban Malawi.
Street lighting is restricted to the major town centres;
the rest of the streets have no lighting, creating an unsafe
environment for cyclists and pedestrians, especially
women. Both planned and unplanned housing areas
lack street lighting, and it is vital to provide it on all
2626
streets, as well as floodlights in unplanned areas and
traditional housing areas to improve safety and security.
Where street lighting does exist, maintenance is a major
challenge. It is very encouraging to note that small town
councils such as Kasungu have installed street lighting.
The main means of communications in Malawi include
fixed and wireless telephones, cellular phones, telex,
courier, and postal and internet services, which are
provided by a number of companies and regulated by
the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority.
Network coverage is available in most parts of the
country, though with some interruptions. The
availability of cheap and affordable telephone handsets
is contributing to the increasing number of people with
fixed, wireless and mobile phones. Telecommunications
is controlled through the Communications Act,
Information and Communication Technology Policy
Statement and other legal frameworks. The Malawi
Communications Regulatory Authority is striving
to improve telecommunications and is currently
undertaking a project to have fully digital broadcasting
by 2015. Challenges include the lack of monitoring
capacity, the proliferation of towers and analogue
equipment.
WATER SUPPLY
Three regional water boards and two city water boards
supply water to various urban centres. Northern Region
Water Board supplies water to Mzuzu and the whole
northern region of Malawi, Central Region Water Board
is responsible for the central region (except Lilongwe),
and Southern Region Water Board supplies districts in
the southern region, including Zomba. Blantyre and
Lilongwe Water Boards are responsible for Blantyre and
Lilongwe cities and their surrounding areas1. There has
been a steady increase in the number of water meters
(consumers in service) since 2000. The northern region
registered an increase from 7,811 metres in 2001 to
127,743 in 2008; the central region registered an
increase from 10,779 in 2006 to 13,378 in 2008; and
the water board in the south went from 12,687 metres
in 2002 to 25,746 in 2008. Lilongwe Water Board saw
meters increase by 50 percent between 2003 and 2008,
while Blantyre registered a minimal increase2.
The proportion of people with safe drinking water stood
at 80 percent in 2009, up from 72 percent in 2005. In
urban areas, the figure dropped from 98 percent in 2007
to 94 percent in 2009. In rural areas, access increased to
78 percent in 2009. Most people take about 15 minutes
to access the nearest drinking water supply3, as shown
in the figure 8 below. The Malawi government stated
that 81 percent of Malawians had sustainable access to
an improved water source as of 2010, surpassing the
Millennium Development Goal target of 74 percent
by 20154. It is important to note that most households
access water from communal water points. In informal
FIGURE 4: TIME IN MINUTES TO THE NEAREST DRINKING WATER SUPPY(2009)
120.00%
100.00%
80.00%
60.00%
40.00%
20.00%
0.00%
MALAWI RURAL URBAN MZUZU
CITY
1 National Statistical Office (2009), Statistical Yearbook.
2 National Statistical Office (2009), Statistical Yearbook.
3 National Statistical Office (2009), Welfare Monitoring Survey 2009.
4 Malawi Government (2010), 2010 Malawi Millennium Development Goals
Report.
settlements, access is limited by high cost, congestion
and poor maintenance; as such, many households
access water from shallow wells and rivers5. Most public
schools and health facilities are supplied with piped
water or safe water from another source.
ONGOING PROJECTS
National Water Development Project
This project aims to increase access to sustainable water
supply and sanitation services for people living in cities,
towns, market centres, and villages, and improve water
resource management at the national level. Unserviced,
low-income areas in Blantyre and Lilongwe cities will
benefit from pilot water supply and sanitation services.
The project will also contribute to building sector
capacity through improved monitoring, regulation,
incentive structures, public–private partnerships, and
coordination among the sector stakeholders. As part of
the project, Blantyre and Lilongwe Water Boards are
implementing the Provision of Potable Water to Peri-
Urban Areas Project, supported by a variety of donors.
Priority Rehabilitation and Expansion Works Project
Northern Region Water Board is executing a MWK 1.6
billion Priority Rehabilitation and Expansion Works
Project to rehabilitate and expand the current water
supply system by installing three new reservoirs, an
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - BASIC URBAN SERVICES
additional water source and new pressure zones to boost
water pressure. The project is expected to improve water
supply efficiency.
0 - 14 MINUTES
15 - 29 MINUTES
30 - 44 MINUTES
45 - 59 MINUTES
60+ MINUTES
LILONGWE ZOMBA BLANTYRE
CITY CITY CITY
5 Manda, M. A. Z. (2009), Water and Sanitation in Urban Malawi: Can the
Millennium Development Goals Be Met? A Study of Informal Settlements in
Three Cities, International Institute for Environment and Development.
2727
 INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP
t
The Ministry of Irrigation and Water Development,
assisted by the Water Resources Board, oversees
water development and supply matters.
t
Central Region Water Board, Northern Region
Water Board, Southern Region Water Board,
Blantyre Water Board, and Lilongwe Water Board
are the main piped water suppliers in Malawi.
t
Public–private partnerships in low-income and
unplanned areas are in place and managed by
community development committees and water
user associations.
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
The Water Resources Act, Water Works Act, Local
Government Act, Public Health Act, Environmental
Management Act, Town and Country Planning Act,
Planning Guidelines and Standards, Forestry Act, Land
Act, and by-laws and regulations provide guidance in
water provision.
PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
t
Inadequate resources hamper water supply
improvement projects at all levels.
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - BASIC URBAN SERVICES
t
Communal water revenue mismanagement leads to
disconnections and outstanding water bills.
t
Water losses, old pipes and high maintenance costs
increase water supply costs.
t
Public–private partnerships, through community
development committees and water user associations,
are in place in various communities, and performance
depends on management.
t
Availability of water varies, with low-income and
unplanned areas having the least.
t
Intermittent power supply affects the supply of
piped water.
t
The capacity of the water boards is insufficient, while
demand is increasing.
t
Water boards supply water to any applicant in
urban areas regardless of location, contributing to
the spread of informal settlements while providing
potable water.
RESOURCE MOBILIZATION
t
The Malawi government provides funding in
collaboration with donors such as World Bank,
the European Union, Australia, the Netherlands,
UNICEF, the African Development Bank, and
International Development Association.
2828
t
The water boards generate their own income, which
is used for some projects and operations.
t
The external sources include grants and credit from
local and international organizations.
AGREED PRIORITIES
t
Providing water to all, especially low-income
areas.
t
A sustainable water supply system.
t
Improving water and sanitation in all areas,
including rural areas.
ENERGY SOURCES
The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi is the sole
supplier of hydroelectric energy in Malawi for lighting,
cooking, heating, and industrial use, from Nkula,
Kapichira, and Tedzani hydropower stations on Shire
River in the Southern Region and Wovwe in Karonga
District. Only 11 percent of Malawi’s population have
access to electricity: 34 percent of the urban population
and 2.5 of the rural population1. About 2 percent of
Malawians use electricity for cooking, while the majority
use firewood. People with at least a secondary education
seem more likely to use electricity for cooking. Figure 6
shows the statistics on energy sources for cooking.
Many people use electricity for lighting in all areas,
though most (77 percent) use paraffin2. About 98
percent of people use solid fuels, and it is unlikely
that the 0 percent target of Millennium Development
Goal 7 will be met, even though government indicates
that it will3. Regarding the prevalence of electricity
connections, affordability is the main determinant, not
location.
1 Foster, Vivien and Maria Shikaratan (2010), Malawi’s Infrastructure: A
Continental Perspective.
2 National Statistical Office (2009), Population and Housing Census 2008 Main
3
Report.
Malawi Government (2010), 2010 Malawi Millennium Development Goals
Report.
 INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP
t
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy
provides legal guidance and the Malawi Energy
Regulatory Authority controls tariffs.
t
The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi is the
sole supplier of hydroelectric power in Malawi, as
public–private partnerships in the energy sector are
not known to exist.
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
t
The Electricity Act guides the supply of electricity.
RESOURCE MOBILIZATION
t
The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi
depends on revenue from bills, which is inadequate.
t
The corporation also benefits from external sources,
including grants and loans.
AGREED PRIORITIES
t
Enhancing the supply system to meet growing
demand by improving generation.

t
The Malawi Energy Regulatory Act controls the
electricity tariff.
t
Electricity by-laws developed by the Malawi
Electricity Regulatory Authority are yet to be
adopted.
t
Developing alternative power sources such as
wind and solar energy.
t
Preventing vandalism of public infrastructure.

PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

t
The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi faces
resource and generation capacity challenges, which
hamper delivery of services.
t
No public–private partnerships exist in electricity
supply, as the Electricity Supply Corporation of
URBAN SAFETY
Safety and security of people and property are
fundamental priorities for the Malawi government,
as enshrined in the constitution. The Malawi Police
Service, National Road Safety Council, Roads

MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - BASIC URBAN SERVICES

Malawi generates, transmits and supplies electricity.
t
Electricity connection is costly, as applicants pay for
capital investment assets owned by the corporation.
t
Electricity is used mostly for lighting and less for
cooking, while supply is characterized by frequent
outages.
Authority, Neighbourhood Watch Groups, community
policing, private firms, and other stakeholders provide
public and private safety and security services. The
Malawi Police Service, in collaboration with various
local authorities and stakeholders, is responsible for
the provision of a safe, secure and crime-free urban and
rural environment. It is therefore responsible for the
prevention, investigation, and detection of crime;

FIGURE 5: ENERGY SOURCES FOR COOKING IN MALAWI IN 2009

100.00%

90.00%

80.00%

70.00%
ELECTRICITY
60.00%
PERCENTAGE

PARAFFIN
50.00%
CHARCOAL
40.00%
FIREWOOD
30.00%
OTHER
20.00%

10.00%

0.00%

2929
 FIGURE 6: REPORTED AND REGISTERED CASES Challenges include inadequate resources and equipment
2009 & 2010 for the Malawi Police Service and security firms;
inadequate training of staff officers; low motivation,
800.00
700.00
leading to corruption and conniving with criminals;
600.00 untrustworthy neighbourhood watch groups; poor
500.00
400.00
cooperation among stakeholders; weak legal frameworks;
300.00 non-compliance with regulations by the general public;
200.00
100.00
and weak public–private partnerships where in existent.
- The police should encourage the establishment of more
partnerships with communities to improve safety and
security, and also make a general appeal to the public.
MURDER RAPE DEFILEMENT INDECENT SODOMY ARMED MOTOR
CASES YOUNG GIRLS ASSAULT ROBBERY VEHICLE
THEFT
2009 417.00 289.00 645.00 235.00 14.00 132.00 106.00
2010 25 24 755.00 563.00 23.00 80.00 76.00 INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP
t
The Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security
is the overall overseer of law, order and public safety
FIGURE 7: REPORTED AND REGISTERED CASES through the Malawi Police Service.
2009 & 2010
t
The four profiled cities are mandated to provide a
100,000
90,000
safe environment.
80,000
70,000 t
In traditional housing areas and unplanned
60,000 settlements, community policing and neighbourhood
50,000 watch groups provide security.
40,000
30,000
20,000
t
The National Road Safety Council and the Roads
10,000 Authority concentrate on road safety.
-
CRIMINAL
CASES
ROBBERY
WITH
BREAKING
OFFENCES
ASSAULT
CASES
TRAFFIC
ACCIDENTS
t
The Department of Occupational Safety and
VIOLENCE Hazards ensures safety for employees.
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - BASIC URBAN SERVICES

2009 93,420 3,851 15,941 15,966 2,908

2010 85,728 3,148 14,853 15,076 2,648 t
Private firms also provide safety and security on a
private (commercial) basis.

apprehension and prosecution of offenders; maintenance

of law and order; protection of life, property, fundamental REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
freedoms, and rights of individuals; and enforcement of The Local Government Act, Town and Country
all laws and regulations1. Both the police and private Planning Act, building by-laws, Crime Prevention
firms provide services at a fee. Policy, National Roads Act, Road Traffic Act,
The Malawi Police Service has 34 stations countrywide, Occupational Health, Safety, and Welfare Act, Police
eight substations, 35 posts, and 191 units, giving a total Act, Malawi Constitution, Police Regulations, Service
of 268 formations. Staffing levels countrywide in 2010 Standing Orders, Penal Code, circulars, and planning
stood at 9,655; the police–population ratio was 1:1,346 guidelines and standards provide guidance on safety
against an international requirement of 1:500. Female and security in general and at workplaces.
police staff totalled 21 percent, of which 2 percent were
of the rank of inspector and above. About 8 percent of
PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
the male staff were of the rank of inspector and above2.
t
The crime rate in urban centres has been fluctuating
Safety challenges in the urban areas include criminal and decreasing in some areas over the past few years.
cases, murder, sexual offences, breaking and entering
offences, assault, gender-based violence, theft, robbery, t
Rapid Response Services (991 and 990) by the
and road and fire accidents. police increased efficiency in crime and accident
management.
The following figures show that cases of murder, rape,
defilement, indecent assault, and sodomy are on the t
Public–private partnerships are helping to reduce
increase, while criminal cases, robbery, breaking and crime, theft and accidents in most areas, though
entering offences, motor vehicle theft, assault, and some neighbourhood watch members have been
traffic accidents are decreasing in general. caught stealing.
1 The Malawi Police Services (2010), 2010 Annual Report, Research and Planning
Unit.
2 The Malawi Police Services (2010), 2010 Annual Report, Research and Planning
t
The fire-fighting service is inefficient, and fires have
Unit.

3030
 led to loss of property and lives.
t
A total of 5,557 road accidents occurred in 2009
and 2010, 973 of them fatal.
t
The police provide free and pay services, while
private security firms provide pay security services.
RESOURCE MOBILIZATION
t
Police are funded mainly by government, though
funding is inadequate and service delivery is
compromised.
t
Police collect fines and other revenue, but these go
into government coffers. NGOs also contribute to
the police.
t
Multilateral donors have also assisted the police
service at times through donations of equipment.
t
City councils use their own limited resources to
provide public safety services.
AGREED PRIORITIES
t
Fighting crime in all urban areas.
t
Private firms and community policing groups use
their own resources collected from clients and
residents.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste management in general is the responsibility of
local governments at all levels through the provision
of the necessary infrastructure and services. The
Malawi government indicates that the proportion of
people with access to improved sanitation, i.e. those
using flush toilets, ventilated improved pit latrines, or
covered toilets, is 93 percent, while the Millennium
Development Goal target was 86.2 percent by 20153.
Figure 9 shows the statistics on sanitation as of 20104.
The city councils are responsible for the management
of solid waste in their areas of jurisdiction, and they
provide refuse removal services through skips and other
means. Some private institutions have their own means
of managing the waste, such as treatment works or
incinerators.
Major issues include indiscriminate waste disposal,
environmental degradation, pollution from industrial
and domestic effluent, and insufficient regulations.
Inadequate capacity (rudimentary equipment) and
crude dumping due to lack of proper waste management
facilities are among the challenges. In terms of
sanitation, most schools and health facilities rely on

MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - BASIC URBAN SERVICES

t
Intensifying awareness on road usage and septic tanks and ventilated improved pit latrines.
defensive driving.

t
Strengthening collaborations with security INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP

companies.
t
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy and
Ministry of Transport lead at the national level.

FIGURE 8: TYPE OF TOILET FACILITY FOR SANITATION IN MALAWI 2008

90.00%

80.00%

70.00%
FLUSH TOILET
60.00%
PERCENTAGE

TRD TOILET
50.00%
VIP TOILET
40.00%
NO FACILITY
30.00%
OTHER
20.00%

10.00%

0.00%

3 Malawi Government (2010), 2010 Malawi Millennium Development Goals

Report.
4 National Statistical Office (2010), 2010 Housing and Housing
Conditions.

3131
 t
The Public Works, Health, and Parks and Recreation
Departments of the councils are responsible for AGREED PRIORITIES
waste management, pollution control, sanitation
services, and environmental health. t
Identifying and developing a landfill site and
constructing a sewage system.
t
Malawi Housing Corporation, city councils and
other private firms provide septic tank vacuum t
Procuring vacuum tankers for emptying septic
emptying services at a fee. tanks.
t
The Malawi Homeless People’s Federation has t
Capacity building and sensitization on proper
introduced Ecosan toilets in Mzuzu, Lilongwe waste management, including composting.
and Blantyre; solid and liquid waste is used in the
production of organic manure for use or sale. t
Establishing a recycling plant for non-
biodegradable waste.
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK t
Adoption of new sanitation technologies such as
The National Sanitation Policy (2008), Local Ecosan toilets.
Government Act (1998), Public Health Act, Town and
Country Planning Act, and Planning Guidelines and
Standards (under review) complement each other in
waste management and sanitation. BASIC URBAN Project proposal Page 47
SERVICES Urban Safety Infrastructure Provision
N°1 Project
PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
t
There is indiscriminate disposal of solid and
liquid waste in marketplaces, streets, open spaces,
and industrial and residential areas due to lack of
financial, technical, and human resources, as well as
lack of awareness.
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - BASIC URBAN SERVICES

t
Malawi Housing Corporation provides support for

t
the removal of liquid waste and garbage. Public–
private partnerships are emerging but need to be
supported by finance lending institutions and the
councils.
t
Proper waste disposal facilities must be identified
and developed in all major cities, as the present ones
are a health hazard.

RESOURCE MOBILIZATION
t
Cities depend on property taxes and fees for waste
management and sanitary services.
t
Public–private partnerships and community
involvement should be encouraged to improve
service delivery.

ONGOING PROJECTS
Northern Region Water Board is preparing a sanitation
strategic plan for Mzuzu, consisting of a situation
analysis of Mzuzu, sanitation technology review and
selection, a detailed sanitation coverage plan, a proposed
institutional arrangement for the sanitation plan, and
a sanitation intervention implementation plan. Other
cities are implementing sanitation projects as part of
upgrading projects.

3232
LAND
Most of the land in Malawi is under customary
tenure, but the status quo is changing as customary
and public land is being converted into private land1.
Land use planning in Malawi extends to all rural and
urban land, whether public, private or customary2.
Customary land accounted for 79 percent of the land,
public land 17 percent, and private land 4 percent (3
percent leasehold and 1 percent freehold) as of 19753.
The urban areas claim only 300,000 hectares of the
country’s land4. Cumulatively, public land in the cities
of Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, and Zomba comes to
about 33 percent, private land (freehold and leasehold)
20 percent, and land under customary practices about
47 percent.
Land issues are administered and managed by several
players, including the Ministry of Lands, Housing and
Urban Development, Malawi Housing Corporation,
the city councils, private landlords, and traditional
leaders. Serviced land for low-income housing is scarce,
forcing most people in the urban areas to get land in
unplanned settlements, thereby accelerating squatting.
Challenges include outdated legal frameworks, the
involvement of traditional practices in planning
areas, the residual effects of colonial land policy, land
scarcity in spite of idle land, provocative squatting, and
mismanagement of land development5. Several policies
and legal frameworks have been formulated to respond
to the challenges currently faced, including the Malawi
Land Use Planning and Management Policy6, Land
Bill, Registered Land Bill, and Physical Planning Bill7.
ONGOING PROJECTS
THE COMMUNITY-BASED RURAL LAND DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT
This project aims at contributing to poverty reduction
by providing land to about 15,000 landless households
in 4 districts in southern Malawi. It started in 2004 and
continued for about eight years. The project sought to
free up unutilized and under-utilized land resources held
under the estate subsector in rural areas, where poverty
is most pervasive. Through a market-assisted land
redistribution approach, under the premise of willing
seller–willing buyer, the land would become available
for agricultural production. The total project financing
was about USD 37.6 million8. Computerization
of existing land records through the Land Records
Computerization Project is also underway. The
1 UN-Habitat (2010), Malawi Urban Housing Sector Profile.
2 Malawi Government (2002), Malawi National Land Policy.
3 National Statistical Office (2009), Statistical Yearbook.
4 Kandodo, F. (2001), Land Reform in a Regional Context: Malawi
Experiences.
5 Malawi Government (January 2011), Land Sub Theme, Contribution to the
Successor Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGD II).
6 Malawi Government (June, 2010), Malawi Land Use Planning and
Management Policy.
7 Malawi Government (June, 2011), Physical Planning Bill.
8 World Bank (2011), The Community-Based Rural Land Development Project in
Malawi.
Department of Physical Planning is also preparing a
National Land Use and Management Strategy and an
operational Development Guide at the district level in
Malawi.
INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP
t
The Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban
Development, the Malawi Housing Corporation,
city councils, private landholders, and traditional
leaders own or manage land.
t
Other government ministries also own land in
various areas in the country.
t
City councils manage low-income housing through
the allocation of high-density serviced plots in areas
such as traditional housing areas.
t
Malawi Homeless People’s Federation, Centre for
Community Organization and Development, and
Habitat for Humanity Malawi are developing low-
income housing for the urban poor.
t
Other players in housing provision include Press
Properties, Malawi Property Investment Company,
Kanengo Northgate, etc.
t
Local chiefs also administer unserviced land
according to planning requirements in cities.
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
t
The Land Act, Lands Acquisition Act, Registered
Land Act, Land Survey Act, Town and Country
Planning Act, Deeds Registration Act, Customary
Land Development Act, Local Land Board Act,
Adjudication of Title Act, Draft Physical Planning
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - LAND
Bill 2011, Land Bill 2009, Draft National Housing
Policy (2010), Environmental Management Act,
National Land Policy, and others.
PERFORMANCE AND
ACCOUNTABILITY
t
At times, Town and Country Planning Board
decisions are challenged in court, making
implementation of professional planning issues
difficult to enforce.
t
The urban councils are not strong enough to direct
and control developments in certain areas under
their jurisdiction and in the absence of up-to-date
urban structure plans.
t
Most legal frameworks are outdated, and new drafts
and reviews are awaiting parliamentary approval.
3333
 t
Lack of up-to-date land records and land use
plans is complicating future planning and effective AGREED PRIORITIES
implementation.
t
Operationalizing planning at the district level.
t
Corruption and fraud in land administration,
particularly by public officers. t
Building the capacity of the ministry in terms of
quantity and quality.
t
Absence of integrated land use planning is worsening
land administration/management issues. t
Embracing new technologies and enhancing the
t
Inadequate capacity (human, technical and financial) quality of planning services in Malawi.
is hampering efficient land administration. t
Developing and providing more serviced plots to
t
Slow land administration/management devolution enhance housing and revenue.
to local councils is fuelling challenges in land
management. t
Transferring some land to city councils to
improve land management.
t
Scarcity of serviced low-income and high-density
plots in recent years and limited resources for t
Establishing a computerized land information/
housing. administration system in the departments dealing
with land.
t
High cost of plots in major urban areas is leading to
unplanned housing settlements.
t
New housing areas face challenges compensating Project proposal Page 49
LAND
people who are to be relocated, and planned
N°1 Computerized Land Information System
programmes thereby fail.
t
Involvement of local leaders (village headmen/
chiefs) is exacerbating land management challenges.

RESOURCE MOBILIZATION
t
The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban
Development is funded by the central government
and funding is always inadequate.
t
City councils mostly use their own funds and some
grants.
MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE - LAND

t
Revenue includes development charges, ground

rent, search fees, consent application fees, change of
ownership fees, rentals, plan application fees, plan
scrutiny fees, plan processing fees, and appeal fees,
among others.
t
The Urban Window of the Local Development
Fund and the Treasury Fund are opportunities for
urban development.

3434
GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS PRIORITIES

Local Government Absence of elected Existence and Uncertainty of local Train councillors
Act (1998) and ward councillors. willingness of government elections. and council staff in
Decentralization community participatory urban
Policy (1998) in place. Political interference development Weak transparency management.
in technical affairs in committees, NGOs, and accountability
Other relevant legal the cities. academic institutions, in city management Improve governance
frameworks, by-laws, donors, and civil affairs. in the city.
and regulations, e.g. Involvement of
society organizations
the Public Finance traditional leaders Existence of parallel Formulate and
to support council
Management Act, in urban land governance system implement a city
affairs.
Corrupt Practices Act, administration. by local chiefs within service charter.
Public Procurement Availability of training the city.
Lack of a city services Review existing urban
Act, etc. in place. opportunities for
charter. Political interference, sector profiles, by-
staff.
Established corrupt practices and laws and formulation
Inadequate and fraud in city affairs. of by-laws.
departments for key
outdated regulatory
sectors in place.
frameworks. High default rate of Introduce
A growing property property taxes and participatory
Inadequate capacity other fees. budgeting.
revenue base.
in local authorities.
Availability of civic
Lack of support
education and adult
for public–private
literacy programmes.
partnership culture in
urban service delivery.

PROJECT PROPOSALS - GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

3535
 GOVERNANCE Project proposal
AND FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT Local Authority Capacity Building
N°1
LOCATION: Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, and Zomba.
DURATION: 24 months
BENEFICIARIES: City councils, councillors, council
staff, key stakeholders, community development
committees, NGOs, community-based organizations,
residents, taxpayers, service and utility providers, etc.
IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: Four city councils
(Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, and Zomba), a training
institution, Ministry of Local Government and Rural
Development, National Initiative for Civic Education,
the business Sector, Malawi Revenue Authority,
development partners, Local Development Fund,
and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban
Development.
PROJECT PROPOSALS - GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
ESTIMATED COST: USD 750,000
BACKGROUND: The ability of the city councils to
deliver services and respond to city needs depends on
their capacity to facilitate and participate in urban
management. The residents should also be aware of their
duty in urban management. However, local authorities
lack the necessary skills and knowledge in various
thematic areas, including leadership, municipal finance,
participatory planning, participatory budgeting,
conflict management, infrastructure development and
management, and geographic information systems;
other stakeholders also lack awareness. The councils
must build their capacity to improve urban management
processes in sustainable and participatory ways while
bringing on board other stakeholders.
OBJECTIVES: To improve the urban management
capacity and awareness of urban stakeholders.
ACTIVITIES: (1) Identify training coordinators and
conduct a needs assessment, (2) Identify a training
institution, (3) Develop a capacity-building programme
in various sectors, (4) Conduct capacity-building and
city awareness programmes, (5) Establish a sustainable
capacity-building programme, and (6) Develop and
implement a monitoring and evaluation programme.
OUTPUTS: City councils’ urban management
capacity improved, with a sustainable capacity-building
programme in place.
STAFF REQUIRED: Capacity building experts,
community workers and trainers of trainers.
36
36
GOVERNANCE Project proposal
AND FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT National Urban Observatory
N°2 Programme
LOCATION: Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, and Zomba.
DURATION: 18 months
BENEFICIARIES: The public and private sector, city
residents and city councils.
IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: The four city
councils, Ministry of Local Government and Rural
Development, Ministry of Lands, Housing, and
Urban Development, Ministry of Information, Mzuzu
University, National Statistical Office, civil society
organizations, UN-Habitat, and development partners.
ESTIMATED COST: USD 800,000
BACKGROUND: Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, and
Zomba face various economic, social, and political
challenges as they strive to improve their economic
performance and reduce urban poverty, as over 60
percent of their populations live in unplanned areas.
Decision making is difficult, with inadequate data on
key development areas. Data and information flow is
skewed and mostly outdated. Urban support unit(s)
with a local observatory could assist the city councils
in improving productivity and equity, and promoting
good governance and sustainability.
OBJECTIVES: To improve urban data management in
various sectors and decision making.
ACTIVITIES: (1) Mobilize stakeholders to participate
in the establishment of the National Urban Support Unit
and Local Urban Observatories, (2) Conduct a needs
assessment on data and information management, (3)
Develop effective data management and communication
strategies, (4) Develop and establish National and
Local Urban Observatories, and (5) Institutionalize the
observatory processes in the councils.
OUTPUTS: National and Local Urban Observatories
established and operational.
STAFF REQUIRED: Coordinator and research team
with experience in urban management issues.
SLUMS AND SHELTER

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS PRIORITIES

Some legal No legal frameworks New Land and Absence of specific Slum upgrading.
frameworks in for slum upgrading, Housing Bill legal frameworks to
support of low- including a National is awaiting address unplanned Capacity building for
income housing in Housing Policy. parliamentary settlements and low- local communities
place. approval. cost housing. and city councils.
Restrictive planning
Minimum standards. Self-help housing Resistance from chiefs
requirements for construction to stop meddling in
low-income housing Absence of building initiatives by people land matters within
available. standards to guide themselves. the urban areas.
low-income housing.
Land available for Establishment of Increasing population
councils to develop Involvement of chiefs a Development and increasing cost of
low-income housing in land matters is Coordination building materials.
plots. fuelling unplanned Committee to guide
settlements. service delivery and Lack of secure tenure
Availability of local city development. (collateral) to access
and affordable Weak coordination loans for housing
building materials. and poor forward Upgrading of development for the
planning is unplanned low-income groups.
Community contributing settlements to
development to unplanned improve living Political interference
committees in place. settlements. conditions. on technical issues.

Councils have had a Inadequate capacity Delivery of housing

mandate to develop to develop sufficient through public–
low-income housing low-income housing private partnerships.
since 1992. land.
High demand for
Restrictive low-cost housing.
institutional housing
finance and high Availability of NGOs
construction costs. to provide low-cost
housing.

PROJECT PROPOSALS - SLUMS AND SHELTER

3737
 Project proposal
SLUMS AND
SHELTER National Participatory Slum
N°1 Upgrading Programme

LOCATION: Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, and Zomba.

DURATION: 36 months
BENEFICIARIES: Slum dwellers in all four cities.
IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: Malawi Housing
Corporation; Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban
Development; Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, and
Zomba City Councils; NGOs; communities,;Mzuzu
University; UN-Habitat; the private sector; and
development partners.
ESTIMATED COST: USD 1.6 million
BACKGROUND: Residents in urban unplanned
areas live in deplorable conditions with inadequate
basic infrastructure and services such as roads, water,
and electricity. There is an urgent need for upgrading
to improve the living conditions of the residents and
reduce poverty.
OBJECTIVES: To improve the lives of slum dwellers
and reduce poverty.
ACTIVITIES: (1) Make an inventory of the existing
slum-upgrading initiatives, (2) carry out a situation
analysis of selected unplanned settlements, (3) prepare
strategies for replication of successful upgrading
initiatives, (4) Conduct feasibility studies, (5)
Implement the slum-upgrading programmes, and (6)
Provide monitoring and evaluation.
OUTPUTS: Selected slums and unplanned settlements
upgraded.
PROJECT PROPOSALS - SLUMS AND SHELTER

STAFF REQUIRED: Urban planners, a socio-

economic mapping expert, trainers in community
housing construction, engineers, environmentalists, a
water and sanitation specialist, and local community
coordinators.

38
38
GENDER AND HIV/AIDS

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS PRIORITIES

National Gender Absence of local level Deliberate decisions Local level gender Advocate and
Policy and other and HIV/AIDS legal to empower women policies that are not improve girls’ access
legislation in place. frameworks. through governance equitably formulated. to education.
and leadership
Active participation Gender activities positions adopted by Lack of resources to Improve awareness
of NGOs, community- biased towards government. implement gender of gender-based
and faith-based women. and HIV/AIDS violence.
organizations and Promotion of programmes.
civil society in gender Lower patronage universal primary Encourage men to
and HIV/AIDS. by men in adult education for all. Early marriages for participate fully in
education. girls and sexual gender and HIV/AIDS
Promotion Building capacity of exploitation of and related projects.
of women’s Low information key players in the vulnerable women.
empowerment by dissemination on gender sector.
various stakeholders. gender issues, Men are fully
including gender- Existence of involved in training
Free primary based violence. microfinance programmes on
education has institutions gender and HIV/AIDS
minimized disparities Inadequate resources supporting economic but do not participate
between boys and to support gender activities of the poor. in related projects.
girls in primary and and HIV/AIDS
junior secondary programmes. HIV/AIDS funding
schools, but gender through the National
Unclear institutional AIDS Commission.
disparities still exist.
set-up at local levels.
Existing programmes Voluntary counselling
Lack of attention by and testing services
for training of
various stakeholders and free antiretroviral
committees at all
on urban poverty. drugs for people
levels on gender and
HIV/AIDS issues. living with HIV.
Poor implementation
of existing Availability of
and proposed international support
programmes. on gender and HIV/
AIDS programmes.

PROJECT PROPOSALS - GENDER AND HIV/AIDS

3939
 Project proposal
GENDER
AND HIV/AIDS Rehabilitation and Upgrading of
N°1 Urban Community Health Facilities

LOCATION: Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, and Zomba.

DURATION: 30 months
BENEFICIARIES: Residents of Blantyre, Lilongwe,
Mzuzu, and Zomba, and the four city councils.
IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: Blantyre, Lilongwe,
Mzuzu, Zomba, Ministry of Health, National AIDS
Commission, Ministry of Local Government and
Rural Development, UN-Habitat, UNDP, UNICEF,
UNAIDS, civil society, and African Medical Research
Foundation.
ESTIMATED COST: USD 1.6 million
BACKGROUND: Urban areas have high incidences of
HIV/AIDS and malaria, among other deadly diseases,
due to geographical, environmental, sociocultural,
and economic factors. Urban health facilities are
inadequate, with a shortage of voluntary counselling
and testing centres and outpatient services. Additional
health facilities are needed, while the existing ones need
rehabilitation or upgrading.
OBJECTIVES: To improve accessibility to health
services for all.
ACTIVITIES: (1) Conduct urban health facilities
audit, (2) Conduct consultative meetings with
key stakeholders, (3) Implement a rehabilitation
and upgrading programme, and (4) Prepare post
PROJECT PROPOSALS - GENDER AND HIV/AIDS

maintenance and monitoring strategies.

OUTPUTS: Improved access to health facilities.
STAFF REQUIRED: Urban planners, engineers and
health personnel.

40
40
ENVIRONMENT, URBAN DISASTER RISK AND CLIMATE CHANGE

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS PRIORITIES

ENVIRONMENT

National and local Outdated legal Review of existing legal Pollution and Conduct an
legislation available. frameworks. frameworks to take on contamination of environmental
board emerging issues groundwater by industry needs assessment
Established Poor coordination such as climate change. effluent, pit latrines and and formulate an
departments to manage and performance in domestic effluent. environmental action
environmental issues in shared environmental Renewed interest in plan.
place. responsibilities. environmental issues Increase in natural
by government and hazards such as floods. Operationalize existing
Budget provision Inadequate resources international and local legal frameworks and
for environmental or capacity to support organizations. Rapid population review existing ones.
management at all environmental growth.
levels. management projects. Participation of Increase budgetary
other stakeholders in Slow response from spending on
Weak enforcement environmental affairs. local authorities to environmental
of environmental climate change. management.
regulations in sensitive Afforestation

PROJECT PROPOSALS - ENVIRONMENT, URBAN DISASTER RISKS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

areas. programmes with other High dependence Explore broad-
stakeholders to repair on charcoal and based public–private
Fragmented building the environment. firewood, accelerating partnerships on
regulations that fail to deforestation of water environmental issues.
fully address complex Establishment of public– catchment areas and
building design and private partnerships forest reserves. Expand existing sewage
construction. in environmental treatment and solid
programmes. waste management
Lack of a conservation facilities.
plan.

URBAN DISASTER RISK AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Existence of legal Lack of local level Political will exists to Uncontrolled Map of disaster-prone
frameworks at national legislation to support address disaster risks. development in areas.
level. urban disaster risk. fragile areas, leading
Growing awareness to environmental Instigate a climate
Existence of Department Lack of technical of the impact of degradation. change programme.
of Disaster Management capacity in times of disasters and mitigation
Affairs. disaster and emergency. measures. Corrupt practices and
fraud are undermining
Participation of Lack of structures building codes and
other stakeholders dealing with disaster planning regulations,
and communities in management and resulting in substandard
disaster response and prevention at the local buildings and increasing
prevention. level. disasters, e.g. fire
accidents.

Climate change and

increasing disasters
(natural and human-
made).

41
41
 ENVIRONMENT Project proposal
URBAN DISASTER
RISKS AND Integrated Environmental
CLIMATE CHANGE Management Programme
N°1

LOCATION: Mzuzu city.

DURATION: 24 months
BENEFICIARIES: Mzuzu City Council and city
residents.
IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: Blantyre, Lilongwe,
Mzuzu, and Zomba cities, civil society organizations,
PROJECT PROPOSALS - ENVIRONMENT, URBAN DISASTER RISKS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

UN-Habitat, Department of Environmental Affairs,

Mzuzu University, NGOs, Geological Surveys
Department, Department of Climate Change and
Meteorological Services, and development partners.
ESTIMATED COST: USD 800,000
BACKGROUND: Urban areas face various
environmental challenges, including climate change,
yet they do not feature high on agendas. The local
councils have inadequate capacity to tackle integrated
environmental management issues, including an
integrated environmental management plan. Such an
integrated plan would help a lot in addressing most
environmental challenges, including climate change.
OBJECTIVES: To improve environmental
management in the wake of climate change.
ACTIVITIES: (1) Conduct a needs assessment through
a consultative process, (2) Prepare an environmental
profile of the city, (3) Prepare an integrated
environmental management plan, (4) Conduct a public
awareness campaign on climate change and related
environmental issues, (5) Implement an integrated
management plan, and (6) Establish a monitoring and
evaluation programme.
OUTPUTS: An integrated environmental management
plan.
STAFF REQUIRED: Environmental experts, building
experts, urban planners, and a geologist.

42
42
LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS PRIORITIES

Availability of some Absence of Skill development Restrictive access to Strengthen the
legal frameworks. comprehensive institutions locally investment capital by Department of
local economic available. small businesses with Trade, Commerce
Existing and growing development no collateral. and Industry within
local markets plans for the cities Growing support and city councils to
for formal and and institutional political will for small Unreliable power and support and promote
informal economic frameworks to and medium-sized water supplies. local economic
sectors to support promote economic enterprises through development.
local economic the establishment Supporting
development.
development. of finance and infrastructure and Provide local economic
Slow growth of the microfinance services are limited to development facilities
Growing markets for industrial sector in institutions. central commercial to support small
goods and services, general to generate areas. and medium-sized
and the hospitality jobs. Possibilities of public– enterprises.
industry. private partnerships. Vending in
Inadequate existing undesignated areas. Provision of serviced
Availability of infrastructure and Availability of land and infrastructure
production factors, services supporting raw materials at for commerce and
such as land, at local economic relatively low cost in industrial investments.
relatively low costs. development. surrounding areas for
manufacturing and Exploit the ecotourism
Inadequate legal agro-industries. potential of the cities.
frameworks
supporting the formal Growing local markets
and informal economy. for finished goods and
services.
Inadequate
entrepreneurial Growing importance
and business skills, of mining activities,
including processed especially in the
production. north, to create more
opportunities (in

PROJECT PROPOSALS - LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Lack of market Mzuzu).
diversification and
satellite local economic
centres to support the
establishment of small
and medium-sized
enterprises.

43
43
 LOCAL Project proposal
ECONOMIC Provision of Local Economic
DEVELOPMENT Development Infrastructure for
N°1 Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

LOCATION: Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, and Zomba.

DURATION: 30 months
BENEFICIARIES: Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, and
Zomba cities, small and medium-sized enterprises,
residents.
IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: The four cities,
business communities and donors, Local Development
Fund, and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural
Development.
ESTIMATED COST: USD 2 million
BACKGROUND: All four cities have inadequate local
economic development markets and infrastructure,
forcing some small and medium-sized enterprises
to conduct their businesses in undesignated areas.
Further, the existing markets are located far from some
residential areas. Construction of new markets and
infrastructure will create environments conducive to
business and enhance local economic development and
council revenue.
OBJECTIVES: To promote small and medium-sized
PROJECT PROPOSALS - LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

enterprises and enhance city council revenue generation.

ACTIVITIES: (1) Conduct needs assessments of local
economic development markets and infrastructure, (2)
prepare a design and strategy for each market and other
local economic development infrastructure and (3)
construct markets and other infrastructure.
OUTPUTS: Markets and other local economic
development infrastructure.
STAFF REQUIRED: Business development expert,
architect, engineer, and physical planner.

44
44
BASIC URBAN SERVICES

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS PRIORITIES

WATER
Water supply legal Poor coordination Water supply is High water costs are Provide water to all.
frameworks in place. among service provided upon forcing some people
providers is leading individual application. to use unsafe water Upgrade existing
Water supply covers to haphazard service sources. water supply systems
most parts of the cities, provision. Provision of water to meet the demand.
including slums. can be used as a Old water supply
Water is not affordable development control infrastructure and high Provide bigger water
Communal water to the very poor. guideline and can maintenance costs. reservoirs.
supply exists reduce squatting.
through kiosks at Ageing water supply Destruction of water Provide alternative
the community level systems, with high Communities are catchment areas power for
through public–private maintenance costs and willing to pay for water through deforestation emergencies.
partnerships. water losses. supply services and and pollution.
manage water kiosks
Most public facilities Water rationing in the through partnerships. Vandalism of water
are connected to a cities leaves some areas supply infrastructure.
piped water supply. without water. Expansion of existing
water supply systems. Politicizing of water
Water quality is Some water kiosk management.
generally good, programmes are not
according to WHO functioning due to low Lack of reliable power
standards. pressure, outstanding for water reticulation.
bills and vandalism.
ENERGY SOURCES
Electricity supply legal Poor coordination Provision of electricity High cost of electricity Enhance the supply
framework in place. among service can be used as a connection. system to meet the
providers is leading development control growing demand.
Electricity supply to haphazard service guideline. Electricity supply
infrastructure available provision and infrastructure is old Replace wooden poles
in most parts of development. Potential for with high maintenance with metal pylons.
the cities, including hydropower and costs.
unplanned settlements. Illegal connections, other power sources, Develop an alternative
unreliable supply including solar. Destruction of water power supply such as
Existence of potential and frequent power catchment areas wind and solar energy.
sources of hydropower. outages. Interconnection with through deforestation
other countries into a and pollution. Prevent vandalism of
Availability of Electricity connection regional power pool.

PROJECT PROPOSALS - BASIC URBAN SERVICES

public infrastructure.
alternative energy takes long. Low capacity to meet
sources such as solar. Availability of training energy demand.
High electricity tariffs in renewable energy,
and levies. e.g. Mzuzu University. Vandalism of
infrastructure and
Monopoly of the assets.
energy market by
the Electricity Supply Over dependence on
Corporation of Malawi. hydropower.

45
45
 STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS PRIORITIES
URBAN SAFETY
Legal framework in Inadequate capacity Crime rapid response Low public trust of Provide street lighting
place. to adequately provide service availability. security provision throughout the cities.
security and safety entities.
Presence of security services. Existence of security Sensitize city residents
providers and and safety provision. Inadequate support about domestic
stakeholders (Malawi Inadequate or no street from the public violence.
Police Service and lighting in many areas. Collaboration among programmes.
private firms). security and safety
Corrupt practices stakeholders, including Rising unemployment
Community policing and theft by security communities. and insecurity among
initiative in place. providers themselves. the urban poor.
Establishment of a
Victim Support Unit by Vandalism of security
the police. and safety equipment
and infrastructure.

WASTE MANAGEMENT
National and local level Inadequate and Emergence of Overdependence on Identify and develop a
legal frameworks in weak enforcement of innovative waste pit latrines and rubbish landfill site.
place. regulations. management and pits is increasing
sanitation concepts groundwater pollution Procure vacuum
Active participation of Weak coordination (e.g. Ecosan toilets and and contamination. tankers for emptying
various stakeholders in among stakeholders. biogas energy). septic tanks.
waste management. Contaminated land at
Underutilization of Improved water Mchengautuwa will Capacity building and
Availability of cleansing existing infrastructure. supply capacity and remain a health hazard sensitization on proper
services. availability. unless decontaminated. waste management,
High use of rubbish pits including composting.
and pit latrines, and Potential for Rapid urban population
indiscriminate waste composting, recycling, growth, with Construct a sewerage
disposal, especially in and re-use. consequent increase in system.
high density areas. waste generation.
Growing interest by Establish recycling
Poor liquid and solid NGOs, community- Compensation to delay plants for non-
waste management. based organizations waste management biodegradable waste.
and private parties site development.
PROJECT PROPOSALS - BASIC URBAN SERVICES

Very few innovative Adopt new sanitation

to take part in waste
ways of managing technologies such as
management.
waste in place. Ecosan toilets.

46
46
 BASIC URBAN Project proposal
SERVICES Urban Safety Infrastructure
N°1 Provision Project

LOCATION: Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, and Zomba.

DURATION: 12 months
BENEFICIARIES: Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, and
Zomba cities, residents, and road users.
IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: Blantyre, Lilongwe,
Mzuzu, and Zomba cities; Road Safety Council; Road
Authority; development partners; primary schools;
Malawi Police Service; Minibus Owners Association of
Malawi; and Sacramento Association (Mzuzu).
ESTIMATED COST: USD 1.5 million
BACKGROUND: Inadequate urban infrastructure
is leading to road usage conflict (motorists, cyclists,
and pedestrians) and road accidents. Schoolchildren
are exposed to danger when crossing the roads. Street
lighting is almost non-existent. Road users also lack
knowledge on proper road usage.
OBJECTIVES: To improve urban safety.
ACTIVITIES: (1) Carry out an urban safety
infrastructure audit, (2) Provide urban infrastructure
(street lighting, road signage, cycle and foot paths, etc.),
(3) Encourage awareness of proper road usage, and (4)
Provide parking space.
OUTPUTS: Urban safety infrastructure provided and
increased knowledge of proper road usage.

PROJECT PROPOSALS - BASIC URBAN SERVICES

STAFF REQUIRED: Engineers, road safety experts
and urban planners.

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 LAND

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS PRIORITIES

Some relevant legal Inadequate capacity National land policy Involvement of Redefine the roles and
frameworks in place. and resources for land advocates equitable chiefs and political functions of traditional
development and access to land, pro- interference in urban leaders within the
Structures for development control. poor developments land matters. cities.
managing land in and tenure security.
place at all levels. Inadequate Delays in developing Service more land and
coordination and Availability of training land use plans (e.g. promote accessibility
Existence of the Plot conflicting interests in courses at the Mzuzu). for low-income
Allocation and Town land administration. University of Malawi, groups.
Planning Committees. Mzuzu University and Existence and
Scarcity of serviced Natural Resources proliferation Improve the capacity
Entry into the housing land. of unplanned of councils in land
College.
sector by pro-poor settlements. administration and
NGOs, community- Cumbersome land Some form of land management.
based organizations administration systems information systems in Weak legislation.
and the private sector. coupled with fraud place. Establish land
and corrupt practices. Increasing cost of information systems in
Existence of Local servicing housing land. departments dealing
Development Fund with land.
to fund local land
servicing projects.
PROJECT PROPOSALS - LAND

48
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 Project proposal
LAND
N°1 Computerized Land
Information System

LOCATION: Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, and Zomba.

DURATION: 36 months
BENEFICIARIES: The four cities, residents,
institutions, utility companies, and private practitioners.
IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: Blantyre, Lilongwe,
Mzuzu, and Zomba cities, Mzuzu University, Ministry
of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Ministry
of Local Government and Rural Development,
development partners, UN-Habitat.
ESTIMATED COST: USD 1.6 million
BACKGROUND: Institutions dealing with land have
staff who are not trained in land administration, lack the
necessary capacity and equipment, and are using archaic
systems, leading to many challenges in land matters.
OBJECTIVES: To improve land administration in the
cities.
ACTIVITIES: (1) Develop a land information system
and (2) Train council staff in land administration and
management.
OUTPUTS: (1) Automated land information system
and (2) Trained staff.
STAFF REQUIRED: Systems administrator,
geographic information system expert and land
administration expert.

PROJECT PROPOSALS - LAND

49
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 MALAWI NATIONAL URBAN PROFILE
The Malawi Urban Profiling consists of an accelerated, action-oriented assessment of urban conditions,
focusing on priority needs, capacity gaps, and existing institutional responses at local and national
levels. The purpose of the study is to develop urban poverty reduction policies at local, national, and
regional levels, through an assessment of needs and response mechanisms, and as a contribution
to the wider-ranging implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. The study is based on
analysis of existing data and a series of interviews with all relevant urban stakeholders, including local
communities and institutions, civil society, the private sector, development partners, academics, and
others. The consultation typically results in a collective agreement on priorities and their development
into proposed capacity-building and other projects that are all aimed at urban poverty reduction. The
urban profiling is being implemented in 30 ACP (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) countries, offering an
opportunity for comparative regional analysis. Once completed, this series of studies will provide a
framework for central and local authorities and urban actors, as well as donors and external support
agencies.

HS Number: HS/112/12E
ISBN Number (Series): 978-92-1-132023-7
ISBN Number (Volume): 978-92-1-132526-3

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME

P.O Box 30030 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254-20-7623120
Fax: +254-20-7623426/7 (Central Office)
infohabitat@unhabitat.org
www.unhabitat.org/publications

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