Malawi has committed to transforming its food systems to promote sustainability, resilience, inclusivity, and healthy diets. This commitment aims to address hunger and malnutrition, reduce environmental degradation, create fair economic opportunities, and enhance resilience to shocks. This commitment is articulated in the Malawi Food Systems National Pathways Report, which was developed following national dialogues whose outcomes were presented at the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit. Both the Pathway and the dialogue outcomes align with the five Action Tracks and are supported by the Food Systems Transformative Integrated Policy (FS‑TIP) Initiative. Malawi, together with Ghana and Rwanda, was among the first African countries to adopt and implement the FS‑TIP initiative.

Malawi, like many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, faces significant and persistent food system challenges (including recurrent hunger, chronic undernutrition, widespread micronutrient deficiencies, food supply disruptions, and price volatility). These constraints continue to hinder the country’s progress toward achieving its strategic development aspirations, including attaining lower-middle-income status and meeting most of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Given the cross-sectoral nature of these challenges, a food systems approach offers a more holistic and appropriate framework for designing effective interventions. Malawi’s long-term development vision, Malawi 2063, embeds this approach through its three foundational pillars: Agriculture Productivity and Commercialization, Industrialization, and Urbanization. Together, these pillars articulate a transformative vision for how food is produced, processed, distributed, and consumed - from the field to the table and ultimately to the body.

CGIAR centers have a long-standing history of working in Malawi to support agricultural and food systems transformation through genetic improvements, targeted commodity research, and evidence-based policy analysis. The CGIAR Centers have collectively, through the “Country Collaboration”, promoted the development and uptake of integrated technological solutions designed to address the diverse and complex challenges facing the agricultural sector. Despite this progress, a critical gap remains in the systematic translation and application of research evidence to inform holistic transformation of food, land, and water (FLW) systems, particularly in the high‑level policy arenas where strategic decisions are made.

The CGIAR Policy Innovation Science Program (Policy Program) seeks to bridge this gap by addressing interconnected challenges shaped by evolving megatrends while pursuing multiple policy objectives simultaneously. The Policy Program envisions “policies and institutions for FLW systems that drive rapid, inclusive transformation, fostering futures where people and planet thrive.” To deliver on this vision, the complex and interlinked nature of food systems policy objectives will be coordinated through Country Policy Hubs. These Hubs will serve as the primary interface between CGIAR, national governments, and development partners, leading policy engagement efforts and ensuring coordination of all country‑specific activities under the Policy Program. Through this mechanism, CGIAR aims to strengthen national policy processes and support transformative, evidence-informed solutions at scale.

Objectives for the Policy Hub launch and Dialogue

* Create awareness of the CGIAR Policy Innovation Platform and the Country Policy Hub
* Reflect on how existing evidence is currently informing national and county-level decision-making.
* Identify specific evidence gaps that constrain the effective execution of current programs.
* Articulate future research demand to support Malawi’s food system transformation into the next five year to 2030.

Attendance Options:

Online: This event is open to the public; everyone is welcome to register and join us virtually.
In-Person: Physical attendance is by invitation only due to limited seating.

Agenda

9:00 -12:00 Session 1: Policy Hub launch

9:45 – 10:15 CGIAR contributions to advancing food systems in Malawi

CGIAR country convener: Gbenga Akinwale

Panel Discussion: Collaboration and partnerships in agriculture research

Grace Kaudzu, Director, Agriculture Research Services, MoAIWD

Marco Vacirca, Programme Manager, Delegation of the European Union to Malawi

Emmanuel Kaunda, Vice Chancellor, LUANAR
Ibrahim Benesi, Executive Director, MUSECO seed company
Grace Gondwe, Farmer

10:15 – 10:30 The Policy Innovation program & Country Policy Hub contribution to food systems transformation
Clemens Breisinger, Director, Policy Innovations Science Program

10:30 – 11:00 The One CGIAR for food systems transformation
DG IITA & DG IFPRI

11:00 – 11:15 Remarks by Secretary for Agriculture
Ms. Erica Maganga

11:15 – 11:40 Remarks by Minister
Hon. Roza Fatch Mbilizi, MP

12:00 – 13:00 Lunch and tour of innovation displays

13:00 - 15:30 Session 2: Policy Dialogue on Co-Creating Evidence for Malawi’s Agri-Food System Transformation

Where Are the Gaps in Evidence and Constraints in Policy Implementation?

13:00 – 13:10 Role of Food Systems approach in achieving the lower middle income and SDGs by 2030  
Andrew Jamali, National Planning Commission

13:10 – 13:20 Agriculture Policy research in Malawi
William Chadza, MwAPATA

13:20 – 13:30 Unpacking the Political Economy of Fertilizer Subsidy Reforms
Danielle Resnick, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

13:30 – 13:40 Transforming Agriculture for Development in Malawi
Jan Duchoslav, Research Fellow, IFPRI

13:40 -14:50 Coordination and implementation of Food Systems in Malawi
Readwell Musopole, Deputy Director of Planning, Ministry of Agriculture

15:30 -16:00 Session 3: Looking Ahead: Evidence Needs for 2027 and Beyond

16:00 -16:30 Closing: CGIAR Representative & Secretary for Agriculture, Malawi