A mapping of Malawi’s public development bank needs

The Agri-PDB Platform is collaborating with Malawi Agriculture and Industrial Investment Corporation (MAIIC) under the EU-funded ILSA program to develop solutions that integrate agro-ecological approaches into the banks’ operations. Through this intervention, MAIIC will enhance the financial ecosystem that supports sustainable agricultural transformation, streamline the decision-making process, and ensure that nature-based solutions are taken into account when providing credit to farmers and small businesses.

Through their collaboration, MAIIC Malawi and Agri-PDB Platform advance agricultural finance and agroecological practices.

Participants in this initial mapping of needs mission included UNDP, GIZ, the World Bank Group, as well as the IFAD country offices and EU delegations to Malawi. Through the team’s efforts, solutions and quick wins were identified in terms of training and the adoption of innovative tools aimed at improving MAIIC practices in terms of financing, monitoring and defining their agroecology initiatives.

The team also developed an action plan to ensure that the needs of MAIIC were met. This plan included strategies for increasing access to finance, creating improved monitoring systems, and fostering collaboration between MAIIC and other stakeholders. The mission was successful in providing a way forward for Malawi in agroecology financing.