Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe are among the countries in sub-Saharan Africa most affected by the severe impacts of the El Niño induced drought which is having catastrophic consequences including failed harvests, lack of food supplies and malnutrition. All three countries have declared a state of National Disaster which is set to last into 2025.
Articles in Relief Web and Aljazeera each tell stories of female farmers having not harvested anything this year despite having used their savings to buy seeds. Drying water sources and decreasing available ground water is impacting access to safe water and food supplies. Farmers are left wondering how they will survive until the harvest next year.
Yves Willemot UNICEF Zimbabwe Chief Communications Officer said, “Harvests have not been what they should be, most people are living in a pretty dire situation with lack of access to water and food.”
When the rains are good and water is not scarce, smallholder farmers can grow crops to feed their families. They can sell the surplus produce in the local markets to buy food, clothes, access medical care and send their children to school. In times of drought, none of this is possible, crops fail, and people go hungry.
The current El Niño episode is occurring amidst a backdrop of recurring shocks and heightened vulnerabilities, which have significantly impeded Malawi’s development progress. In March of last year, Tropical Cyclone Freddy impacted over 2.2 million people and damaged vital infrastructure. Over the past two years both Malawi and Zambia have recorded their worse cholera outbreaks to date.
According to Aljazeera, Zimbabwe and neighbouring Malawi and Zambia are among the countries in Southern Africa most affected by malnutrition after a severe drought which experts say was worsened by the El Niño phenomenon which typically sees prolonged dry spells, reduced rainfall, and increased temperatures.
Drought is a catalyst for worsening poverty. Building resilience is a core aspect of MicroLoan’s model and impact approach. Developing ways for clients to adapt is going to become increasingly important. External and internal assessments reveal that the MicroLoan model effectively provides a safety net for our clients. The support includes diversified income sources beyond farming, access to savings and additional capital, and the backing of a loan group that steps in during times of crisis.
We take a hands-on approach with our clients; we listen to their needs and keep an open dialogue. All three countries of operations are agrarian economies, 90% of our clients are smallholder farmers and all our clients are impacted by the agricultural sector. To manage the risk of crop failure and natural disasters, our clients, are proactively encouraged to develop alternative sources of income. We also promote and emphasise the importance of savings. Savings is a core part of our training programme to provide an additional safety net to clients.
Although our clients report that they are better able to manage emergencies after joining MicroLoan, many are struggling. To help clients through this difficult time, MicroLoan is providing mentoring and training as well as top-up capital, restructured repayments or loan write-offs. We will continue to support our clients through these uncertain times.
References:
2022-Annual-Report-Final-compressed.pdf (microloanfoundation.org.uk)
https://www.wfp.org/news/urgent-action-critical-malawi-faces-sever
Zambia: Drought Response Appeal May 2024 – December 2024 (May 2024) | OCHA (unocha.org)
https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2024/7/9/meals-dry-up-as-zimbabwes-drought-sets-in
Published on: 16/07/2024