WVM hosts Empowered Worldview Learning Lab meeting
World Vision Malawi (WVM) this week played host to the Worldview Learning Lab and Christian commitments meeting that drew together delegates from different countries across the globe.
The countries included USA, Zambia, Lesotho, Uganda, DR Congo, Swaziland, South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, among other countries and the host Malawi.
The learning lab in Lilongwe came amid news that in Malawi alone, out of 17 million people, 8.5 million people are likely to be food insecure due to dry spells, El Nino weather and poor rainfall pattern this year.
According to WVM deputy national director Fordson Kafweku, the meeting provided an opportunity for World Vision to position itself in addressing such situations, with the case study of Malawi.
“WVM endeavors to contribute to the Malawi Government’s efforts of ending hunger and poverty. This is done through the Technical Approaches, including the Malawi Household Food Security and Resilience, which is directly linked to the THRIVE Malawi Programme (Securing Africa’s Future),” said Kafweku.
He said this year’s learning lab was different from previous ones, as it brought together key aspects, which are food security and Christian commitments, viewed as the DNA of World Vision.
Added Kafweku: “Despite a dramatic increase in global food availability and substantial progress in poverty reduction, hunger, food insecurity and undernourishment still remain at unacceptably high levels, and progress in addressing this dimension of poverty has been disappointingly poor.”
He said understanding how agriculture can most effectively contribute to food security remained a critical phenomenon, particularly for policy makers reviewing their approach to agricultural development within the wider framework of economic growth and poverty reduction.
“Increases in agricultural productivity, even where there is mechanization, have evidence of pushing up agricultural wage labour rates, thereby increasing incomes. WVM recognizes that food availability and access are necessary,” he said.
He said this is why, World Vision through its THRIVE Malawi Programme, has partnered with Vision Fund and Farm Concern International to improve the capacity of rural micro-producers to achieve a sufficient wage by strengthening the production systems.
Through Thrive Malawi, WVM seeks to enhance the income security of households through commercialization of agriculture and increased access to financial services with the aim of promoting natural resource based enterprises.
