Malawi: Social funds contribute to poverty reduction

Malawi is a poor country: close to 65 percent of the rural population live on less than US$ 0.60 per day and 48 percent of children are malnourished. The first Malawi Social Action Fund (MASAF) aimed to reduce such high poverty levels. It was introduced at a time when the country was transitioning politically to multi-party system. A review shows that despite the difficulties of this period, the social fund performed well.