Pathways to Prosperity in Rural Malawi

In: Directions in Development. Poverty

In: Directions in Development;Directions in Development - Poverty

Abstract

Front Cover -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- About the Authors -- Abbreviations -- Executive Summary -- Ongoing Challenges -- Reasons for the Persistence of Rural Poverty -- Weak Growth of Agricultural Productivity -- Limited Opportunities to Engage in Nonfarm Activities -- Imperfect Safety Nets in a Context of High Economic Insecurity -- Achieving Prosperity in Rural Malawi -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 1 Recent Trends in Growth, Poverty, and Shared Prosperity in Rural Malawi -- Introduction -- Trends in Growth -- Progress in Some Nonmonetary Dimensions of Well-Being -- Ongoing Challenges -- Summary -- Framework for Understanding Rural Poverty in Malawi -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 2 Agriculture and Poverty -- Introduction -- Status of Agriculture in Malawi -- Agricultural Productivity Growth and Poverty Reduction -- Inefficiencies in Malawi Farm Input Subsidy Program -- Stronger Participation in Markets -- Summary -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 3 Nonfarm Self-Employment Activities and Poverty -- Introduction -- Structural Transformation in Malawi -- NFSE Activities as a Means to Improve Rural Welfare -- Lower Returns on NFSE Activities in Rural Areas (Relative to Urban Areas) and for the Poor -- Determinants of Participation in and Returns to NFSE Activities -- Summary -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 4 Social Protection and Poverty -- Introduction -- Malawi's Imperfect Social Protection Programs -- Possible Reasons for Low Impacts of MASAF-PWP -- Lessons Learned from Public Work Programs in Low-Income and Lower-Middle-Income Countries -- Summary -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 5 Toward a Dynamic Rural Economy -- Introduction -- Create Conditions for Macroeconomic Stability and Structural Transformation -- Increase Agricultural Productivity -- Seek a More Dynamic and Inclusive Structural Transformation

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Pathways to prosperity in rural Malawi

In: Direction in development: poverty

Dabalen, Andrew; De La Fuente, Alejandro; Goyal, Aparajita; Karamba, Wendy; Nguyen, Nga Thi Viet; Tanaka, Tomomi

Dabalen, Andrew; De La Fuente, Alejandro; Goyal, Aparajita; Karamba, Wendy; Nguyen, Nga Thi Viet; Tanaka, Tomomi

Abstract

By most accounts, rural Malawi has lacked dynamism in the past decade. Growth has been mostly volatile, in large part due to unstable macroeconomic fundamentals evidenced by high inflation, fiscal deficits, and interest rates. When rapid economic growth has materialized, the gains have not always reached the poorest. Poverty remains high and the rural poor face significant challenges in consistently securing enough food. Several factors contribute to stubbornly high rural poverty. They include a low-productivity and non-diversified agriculture, macroeconomic and recurrent climatic shocks, limited non-farm opportunities and low returns to such activities, especially for the poor, and poor performance from some of the prominent safety net programs. The Report proposes complementary policy actions that offer a possible path for a more dynamic and prosperous rural economy. The key pillars of this comprise macroeconomic stability, increased productivity in agriculture, faster urbanization, better functioning safety nets, and more inclusive financial markets. Some recommendations call for a reorientation of existing programs such as the Malawi Farm Input Subsidy Program (FISP) and the Malawi Social Action Fund Public Works Program (MASAF-PWP). Others identify promising new areas of intervention, such as the introduction of digital IDs and biometric technologies to enhance the reach of mobile banking and deepen financial inclusion. Finally, and importantly, the report recommends the scaling up of investments on girls' secondary education to curb early child marriage and early child bearing among adolescents. This will empower women at home and work and bend the trajectory of fertility rates in rural areas in order to boost human development and reduce poverty

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