Stories and News

In Malawi, 90% of housing is built through informal construction using traditional building materials. Yet, houses built using traditional building materials with poor quality bricks are mostly affected by recent disasters. Furthermore, burnt bricks for example, exacerbate deforestation. In 2018, through the Sustainable Construction Materials Regulations of 2018, the Malawian government banned the use of burnt clay bricks in commercial and public building projects, in an attempt to spur the adoption of more environmentally friendly construction materials. However, implementation of these measures have been hampered by lack of accessible affordable sustainable construction materials across large parts of the country. As part of addressing these challenges, Habitat for Humanity Malawi in partnership with Habitat for Great Britain and other philanthropists, have set up the Production and Resource Training Center, aimed at fostering the use of eco-friendly materials in the construction industry. The center is situated in Machinjiri, South Lunzu, in Blantyre. The Center has been equipped with two plants to produce cement blocks and Soil Stabilized Blocks (SSBs). The center is one of the state-of-the-art which has installed the Hydraform Conventional and Interlocking Machinery which has the capacity to produce 48,000 SSBs and Cement blocks every month. Within two years, the center is expected to support 541 houses which can be built from the SSBs or Cement Blocks that are produced through this project. 200 disadvantaged youths and other vulnerable groups will be engaged through the Resource and Training department of the center. Habitat is expected to start producing these eco-friendly construction materials early March 2024. Meanwhile, construction of the center is nearly completion. To ensure efficiency and effectiveness of the production, Habitat Malawi has engaged experts from the Hydraform to conduct an onsite training for the newly recruited staff in Blantyre. The newly recruited team is undergoing training in various aspects of Hydraform operation, learning the intricacies of sustainable construction practices. This training will empower the production team to utilize the Hydraform machines efficiently, production and maintenance, health and safety thereby contributing to the success of the Centre. Not only will they learn production but also construction using the Hydraform interlocking Technology. The onsite training program symbolizes a step towards a more sustainable future, combining innovation, skill development, and environmental consciousness in the pursuit of housing solutions for vulnerable communities.

At Habitat for Humanity Malawi, our commitment extends beyond constructing houses. We are dedicated to fostering the use of eco-friendly materials in the construction industry.  This week under Promoting Use of Sustainable Construction Materials in Malawi (PUSCM) project, with financial support from Habitat for Humanity Great Britain and an individual philanthropist, we have embarked on a three-week training session for our production team at our Production and Resource Training Center in South Lunzu, Machinjiri, Blantyre. The training aims to empower the production team with expertise in safety protocols, safeguarding, operation of Hydraform International (Pty)’s Conventional Interlocking Machinery, and the nuances of sustainable construction methods, with a strong emphasis on efficiency and environmental awareness.  The training is being conducted by Mr.  Carlos Sigauque from Hydraform.

Community activists in the #HomeEquals Impact Area of Area 27 sector 3 in Lilongwe are committed to seeing the settlement upgraded as soon as possible. To address their concerns, Habitat for Humanity Malawi’s Senior Management Team (SMT) and staff members visited them in a bid to create a conducive environment for communities to improve their living conditions in informal settlements by providing them with access to housing and land rights in Malawi. The project focuses on capacitating residents and informal settlement networks to attain the security of land tenure through participatory land use planning. This will better advocate for access to housing and land for the urban poor, improving their access to housing and land. The project also aims to increase Malawi’s resilience to disasters by enacting a disaster risk management bill and developing relevant policies. In attendance from SMT were Construction Specialist, Programs Manager, Finance Manager, Human Resources and Administration Specialist; staff members were Construction Coordinator, Resource Development and Partnership Coordinator, Advocacy and Communication Coordinator, Procurement Officer, Project Accountant, and Communications Officer.

In pursuit of community development, dedicated individuals play a crucial role in driving positive change at grassroots level. Frank Mayerayera from Matuwale village, T/A Kabudula, who is passionate and committed individual, has become an invaluable village volunteer, dedicating his time and efforts in uplifting his community. Through his selfless and unwavering commitment, Frank has become a catalyst for transformation and a source of inspiration to others. As we are celebrating Volunteer’s Day globally, under the theme: “If everyone did”, Frank, like other volunteers; is playing a vital role in advocating for social welfare within his community. Frank encourages others in his community to embrace volunteerism as one way to help those who are marginalized and vulnerable. He added that through volunteering, individuals have abilities to transform their communities through actively collaborating with various partners like the government, agencies, and stakeholders that are fostering development.

The 39th Annual African Union for Housing Finance conference, hosted in Windhoek, Namibia was a success. The conference was convened under the theme of “Innovation on the Front Line: Making Affordable Housing Happen”. The conference featured presentations and panel discussions on various topics related to affordable housing. It also held a site visit, an exhibition, and the first AUHF Affordable Housing Awards. Habitat for Humanity Malawi (HFHM), Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) and Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) attended the conference and presented on the Home Equals campaign. The campaign aims to advocate for policy changes that will increase access to adequate housing for people living in informal settlements. Under this campaign, HFHM and CISONECC successfully advocated for the finalization and enactment of the Disaster Risk Management bill and was assented into law on 7th June 2023. The new legislation provides a framework that aims to enhance the capacity and resilience of the country to cope with disasters. The enactment of the Disaster Risk Management Act will bring a positive impact on housing finance in several ways. It will help to prevent or mitigate the loss and damage caused by disasters to housing and related infrastructure. The act once fully operationalized will also help to mobilize and allocate resources for housing finance in the aftermath of disasters. The act provides for the establishment of a Disaster Risk Management Trust Fund, which will be used to promote disaster preparedness, risk management and timely and effective disaster response. The act will also help to promote the integration of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in housing finance policies and practices. This can encourage the adoption of standards and guidelines for safe and sustainable construction practices in housing. This can also foster the development and dissemination of innovative housing finance products and mechanisms that are responsive to the needs and preferences of people living in disaster-prone areas. Read more about the #HomeEquals on www.habitat.org/home-equals Read more about the conference on www.auhfconference.com

Portland Cement Malawi reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the recovery of communities affected by cyclone Freddy with a cement donation worth MK10 million to Habitat for Humanity Malawi. The donation was made at Njema Court in Group Village Headman Mdala in Traditional Authority Njema, Mulanje district. The Chief Executive Officer for Portland Cement Malawi Limited Mr. Jianguo Liu said that when Cyclone Freddy hit most parts of the Southern Region, Portland Cement immediately mobilized some resources from staff and the company donated some foodstuff to one of the camps in Blantyre. However, we identified the need for a long-term sustainable solution to assist the most vulnerable victims who had not only lost their homes and property but most sadly their loved ones. It is on this basis that Portland Cement sought partnership with Habitat for Humanity Malawi with whom we have a shared vision to construct durable housing. The Housing Officer for Mulanje District Council, Ms. Lois Kavuta, representing the District Commissioner said while the housing crisis in the district is huge, every support towards housing will eventually lead to an end of the housing deficit and bring a positive outcome of providing a roof over the head of as many Malawians as possible. She disclosed that cyclone Freddy affected over 11,000 people in Mulanje district alone. Traditional Authority Njema was the most hit area and 97 families completely lost their houses are still living in destitution. Anock Kapira, National Director for Habitat for Humanity Malawi expressed his profound gratitude to Portland Cement Malawi Limited for donating 760 bags of cement towards the construction of resilient houses for the disaster affected families in Mulanje district. The National Director disclosed that this support will enable Habitat for Humanity Malawi to build 13 resilient houses for the disaster affected families in Traditional Authority Njema in the district. “This donation will enable us provide 13 disaster resilient houses to families that are currently deprived of secure shelter”. The national director called upon many corporates in the country to consider partnering with Habitat for Humanity Malawi in its efforts to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. Habitat for Humanity Malawi has in the recent years constructed disaster resilient houses in Zomba, Phalombe, Chikwawa and Nsanje districts when cyclone Idai hit the country. Portland Cement Malawi is one of the manufacturers of cement in the country and produces DuraCrete, SupaSet, Kumanga and Khoma.

Through the Water, Sanitation and Hygeiene (WASH) project implemented in Lilongwe, Habitat for Humanity Malawi has supported communities to assess the effectiveness, quality, and impact of project and services they are receiving from the organization. Habitat for Humanity regularly meets these monitoring committees to get feedback on their impression of the success and challenges they may have observed during the implementation of the project. Such one meeting was conducted in Traditional Authority Masumbankhunda in Lilongwe where Habitat for Humanity Malawi is providing safe water and sanitation facilities to the communities. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry For Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and partly by Habitat for Humanity Germany.   Considering the benefits of this working arrangement, the Project Officer narrated the value observed in involving the communities in monitoring their projects.   Tryness Banda had this to say, “Every three months, we meet with the community-based monitoring committees to collect the data forms and learn from them the project’s best practices and areas that need improvement. The involvement of the community in project monitoring improves accountability and transparency in the implementation of the project. The information about the project is easily accessed by the community. This has improved the commitment of the community towards the project. When we have challenges, we quickly and collectively solve them. Furthermore, the establishment of these community-based committees has helped to build the capacities of members of the communities to monitor projects, thereby promoting their ownership over projects”. Tryness Banda, WASH project Officer for BMZ funded project in Lilongwe. So far, the project has drilled 16 new boreholes and rehabilitated 15 old boreholes in the 30 villages. The project has trained 60 community members that form part of the community-based monitoring committees within the project targeted communities.  Overall, the project interventions contribute towards the achievements of SDG 6 and the National Water Policy. The former ensures that everyone has access to water and sanitation and the latter advocates that every Malawian should have access to sufficient water of acceptable quality and sanitation facilities.  

Families provided with shelter following disasters attain a higher increased opportunities to recover from the effects of disasters than those who are not. The effects of Cyclone Freddy have created a housing deficit for over 800 thousand families in Malawi. Habitat for Humanity Malawi is appealing to government, developing partners, CSOs and individuals to make immediate investments in the provisions of housing to the disaster affected communities. Find out more on the effects of the Cyclone Freddy in Malawi and how you support a family through housing reconstruction by downloading the brochure on this link: Effects of Cyclone Freddy in Malawi – HFHM-Bronchure-April-2023.pdf #BuildBackBetterAndStronger Habitat for Humanity Africa United Nations Development Programme – UNDP UNDP Malawi UN-HABITAT Disaster Management Affairs in Malawi Ministry of Lands – Malawi Japan – The Government of Japan International Organization for Migration Malawi China

#CaravanOfHope Day 1: Story in Pictures Solidarity Visit to Nzedi Community Catholic Development Commission in Malawi -National Office Habitat for Humanity Malawi Tamba Africa Social Circus Muti Arts Exchange Malawi National Youth Network on Climate Change – NYNCC #CaravanOfHope #weareinthistogether

*** Standing Houses in Malawi  *** Yesterday we received some wonderful news from Malawi that we don’t want to withhold from you: “Shortly after Cyclone Freddy, Habitat for Humanity Malawi was able to survey 300 houses – funded by Germany after Cyclone Idai – with the help of the Regional Disaster Protection Committee: None of the houses show structural damage! Communities used the homes as rescue centers after the cyclone, and some people who have lost their homes completely are still housed in the homes. “