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Committee announces new inquiry into the Development Situation in Malawi

14 December 2011

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In July 2011 mass demonstrations against unemployment, high food prices and fuel shortages in Malawi resulted in the deaths of 20 people. Combined with the use of state resources for personal gain and the lack of political freedom, Malawi has entered a political and economic crisis.

In April 2011 the UK’s Ambassador to Malawi was asked to leave the country for criticising its leadership. In July DFID suspended general budget support to Malawi worth £19 million in response to economic mismanagement and poor governance. DFID had allocated £373 million to Malawi for the period 2011-2015. Its budget there was projected to rise from £90 million a year in 2011-12 to £98 million in 2014-15. The World Bank, the EU, the African Development Bank, Germany and Norway have all suspended or ended general budget support to Malawi.

Analysts have warned that unless the situation changes, Malawi risks becoming a fragile state.

Poverty rates are high: 74% of the population live on less than $1.25 per day and 90% on less than $2 per day. Malawi is off-track for most of the Millennium Development Goal targets.

The Committee invites submissions on: 

  • How the UK can best help to improve opportunities for economic growth, job creation and meeting the Millennium Development Goal targets in Malawi 
  • The role of DFID in protecting civil liberties including freedom of expression and access to justice 
  • The conditions under which the UK should continue to provide development assistance to Malawi

The deadline for submitting written evidence is Monday 20 February 2012.

Written evidence submitted should:

  • Be no longer that 3000 words in length 
  • Have numbered paragraphs
  • Avoid the use of colour or expensive-to-print material
  • Be provided electronically in MS Word (No PDF’s) by e-mail to indcom@parliament.uk. Submissions can also be sent by post to International Development Committee, House of Commons, 7 Millbank, London, SW1P 3JA.

View guidance on giving evidence to Select Committees.