1BACKGROUND AND RELEVANCE OF THE DCAFS DATABASE
1.1Background to the DCAFS Database
The Donor Committee in Agriculture and Food Security (DCAFS) aligns its purpose with global aid effectiveness principles and Malawi country-led development strategies to improve aid effectiveness, promote local ownership, and achieve sustainable development outcomes.
The DCAFS Database was first developed in 2011, aligned to the Agriculture Sector-Wide Approach (ASWAp). The database aimed to demonstrate harmonised support to ASWAp as a strategy for reforming and coordinating activities within the agriculture sector, replacing fragmented projects with a unified and comprehensive framework.
The DCAFS database aligned to ASWAp fostered stronger implementation capacity and improved alignment of investments with the National Investment Plan (NAIP), moving away from "vertical" approaches in implementation.
Over the years, several changes to the database have been made to align with government priorities by aligning with the agricultural seven focus areas in Malawi 2063 and its first 10-Year Implementation Plan (MIP-1). This alignment is crucial for achieving the country's goal of becoming an inclusively wealthy, upper-middle-income nation by ensuring that resources are channelled toward the national priorities.
1.2Relevance of the DCAFS Database
2DP-FUNDING AND ALIGNMENT WITH NATIONAL PRIORITIES
2.1Overall DP-Funding Through Agriculture Projects
DPs' funding to the agriculture sector is provided through various projects captured under the Government Development Budget I and other off-budget discrete projects. The table below illustrates the financing and the number of projects in the agriculture sector for individual DPs over an average period of 4.5 years (mostly ranging from 2022 to 2027).
| No. | Development Partner | No. of Projects | Total Funding (US$) Million (4.5 Years Average) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | World Bank (WB) | 3 | 636.20 |
| 2 | International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) | 4 | 415.75 |
| 3 | African Development Bank Group (AfDB) | 12 | 236.84 |
| 4 | European Union Delegation (EUD) | 4 | 96.29 |
| 5 | Royal Norwegian Embassy (RNE) | 7 | 71.70 |
| 6 | Embassy of Ireland (Irish Aid) | 9 | 53.37 |
| 7 | Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) | 3 | 35.40 |
| 8 | Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) | 3 | 31.90 |
| 9 | The Government of Flanders | 9 | 29.48 |
| 10 | German Development Cooperation (GDC) | 4 | 18.48 |
| 11 | UNICEF | 3 | 16.08 |
| 12 | Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO) | 3 | 7.80 |
| 13 | Embassy of Japan /JICA | 4 | 7.24 |
| 14 | UNDP | 1 | 1.50 |
| 15 | UN-Women | 1 | 0.23 |
| Total | 70 | US$1.66 billion | |
| Development Partners' Average Annual Commitment | US$368.5 million | ||
Source: DCAFS 2024/2025 database
Development Partners' current overall funding commitment, through 70 projects running for approximately 5 years, is US$1.66 billion. This was a decrease of US$856.75 million (34.27 percent) from the US$2.50 billion through 89 projects reported in the 2023/24 financial year. This drop is due to the closure of USAID-funded projects in early 2025.
2.2Mapping DP Funding to Mw2063 Agriculture MIP-1 Focus Areas
Development Partners continue to coordinate their support to align with the National Agriculture Policy (NAP) and MIP-1. This alignment presents an analysis of coordination between DPs' projects and the seven MIP-1 Focus areas, noting that this may not be precisely accurate given the differences between DPs' approaches to categorising agriculture expenditure and those used by MIP-1.
Source: DCAFS 2024/2025 Database
2.3Impactful Indicators of DP-Funded Projects
Below are some key impactful indicators of the DP-Funded projects, which strategically contribute to overall sector performance:
- Increased productivity and quality of production in high-value export sectors and a growing share of agricultural commodities other than tobacco in the GDP.
- Increased share of population above the national poverty line and sustained acceleration in inclusive economic growth and resilience for smallholders in selected supply chains.
- Increased access to agriculture financing, resilience and business capacities of the Farmer Organizations, Cooperatives and SMEs.
- Improved nutrition and food security for the smallholder farmers in Malawi.
3IMPROVING DATABASE ACCESS AND UTILIZATION
3.1Google My Maps
Google My Maps is a mapping tool used to map project distribution across Malawi, enhancing data visualisation.
By offering a clear, interactive view of DP projects active in each district, DPs can quickly identify geographic coverage, spot gaps, or overlaps in their interventions.
This visual map can foster better collaboration and reduce duplication of efforts. Ultimately, it transforms static data into actionable insights, making development efforts more targeted and efficient.
3.2Google Drive
Mapping the DCAFS database on Google Sheets has significantly enhanced data coordination and transparency among Development Partners (DPs).
By enabling real-time data entry and automatic syncing, it has streamlined analysis and reporting processes and ensured that all stakeholders have access to the most up-to-date information.
For DPs unable to access the shared spreadsheet due to internal computer network policies, the use of MS Excel as an alternative has maintained inclusivity and consistency across the system. This hybrid approach has proven invaluable in fostering collaboration and minimising data fragmentation.
3.3Moving Forward
The DCAFS database is scheduled for its next update in November 2025, continuing its role as a critical tool for coordinating development efforts in Malawi's agriculture sector.
4ROLLING TALKING POINTS
The Rolling Talking Points, by the Development Partners, aims to communicate key messages to the government, which include applauding the government for undertaking regulatory reforms and asking it to address regulatory barriers and practices to accelerate sector performance.
A. APPLAUD
DCAFS would like to applaud the Government on the following:
B. CONCERNS AND ENCOURAGEMENT
DCAFS would like to bring to the Government's attention the following concerns and recommendations:
- The significant decrease in overall funding commitment from US$2.50 billion in 2023/24 to US$1.66 billion in 2024/25, primarily due to the closure of USAID-funded projects, raises concerns about sustaining the momentum in agricultural development.
- There is a need for strategic engagement with existing and new development partners to bridge this funding gap and ensure continuity in critical agricultural initiatives.
- Differences in categorisation approaches between Development Partners and MIP-1 focus areas may affect the precision of alignment analysis and reporting.
- Encouraging standardized reporting frameworks and closer collaboration between DPs and government agencies would enhance the accuracy and utility of the database for strategic decision-making.
- While the hybrid approach using both Google Sheets and MS Excel has improved accessibility, further efforts are needed to ensure all stakeholders can fully utilize the database capabilities.
- Capacity building initiatives and technical support for government agencies and implementing partners would maximize the database's potential for coordination and impact assessment.