• Malawi's government declared a "state of catastrophe" in several districts on October 25, 2025, due to severe food shortages.

• The decision stems from the combined effects of prolonged droughts, rising commodity prices, and other macroeconomic factors.

• Nearly four million people currently face high levels of food insecurity, according to October 2025 IPC analysis.

Malawi declared a "state of catastrophe" in several districts of the country because of severe food insecurity. The government made the official announcement on Saturday, October 25, 2025, via a formal press release.

The information note detailed the Head of State's declaration of a state of catastrophe in areas like Blantyre, Chikwawa, and Lilongwe, explaining that this action "invoked the provisions of Article 37 (1) of the Disaster Risk Management Act, adopted in 2023."

Press Release pic.twitter.com/yoWHLOtJaT

— Malawi Government?? (@MalawiGovt) October 25, 2025

The government stated that this decision results from the combined effects of prolonged droughts, rising commodity prices, and other macroeconomic factors. These factors weigh heavily on national food security.

Consequently, authorities plan to facilitate the provision of humanitarian aid in these districts. They also intend to strengthen irrigated agriculture programs to reduce dependence on rainfall.

Malawi faces persistent food insecurity, significantly aggravated by extreme climatic conditions over the years. The country relies heavily on rain-fed agriculture. Therefore, it regularly suffers the effects of prolonged droughts and cyclones. These climate shocks compromise harvests and threaten the livelihoods of rural populations.

The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis from October 2025 shows that nearly four million people currently confront high levels of food insecurity. Furthermore, approximately 8,000 individuals face an emergency situation.

The government undertook several initiatives aimed at strengthening resilience and food security. Notably, it secured a $57.6 million grant from the World Bank in 2024. This funding came under the Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat-DDO1). Concurrently, the government concluded an agreement with the World Food Programme (WFP) in January 2025. This agreement covered the importation of 48,000 tonnes of maize, a project financed by $35 million from the World Bank.

This article was initially published in French by Ingrid haffiny (intern)

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum