By Staff Reporter
In a show of continued donor confidence in the administration of President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has given Malawi a grant of US$158 million (almost MK158 billion) to boost economic growth.
Part of the grant will also go towards strengthening democracy and improve Early Grade Literacy and Nutrition in the country.
Announcing this news on his Facebook page, President Chakwera said the donor support has been made possible following discussions he had with USAID Administrator Samantha Power on his recent visit to the Washington DC.
President Chakwera said in a follow up meeting with Ms Power which took place at Kamuzu Palace today, USAID reaffirmed its continued support towards the attainment of sustainable livelihoods for all the Malawians.
“The support comes as a result of various engagements our administration has had with USAID including one I held in Washington DC with Administrator Samantha Power four months ago.
“Our dialogue today with Ms Power at Kamuzu Palace was both to receive the good news and get reaffirmation from the agency of its continued support towards attainment of sustainable livelihoods for everyone,” said President Chakwera.
The Malawi leader indicated that among other things an estimated amount of $11.7 million (MK11.7 billion) from the funding will be used for the consolidation of democracy through the provision of expertise in legislative analysis and supporting parliamentary oversight actions among other other key areas.
President Chakwera also expressed his gratitude for USAID’s plan to inject some funds into the poverty reduction program through the Millennium Account.
The Malawi leader said this poverty reduction program will complement the up coming Millennium Challenge Account initiative.
“I am also delighted to learn that USAID economic support package will complement another up-coming US Government initiative, the Millennium Account, whose compact aims at reducing poverty through economic growth,” said President Chakwera.
USAID has been assisting Malawi in a number of areas such as health and education for a long time but they withheld some of its direct support to Malawi government because of misappropriation of funds by the previous government.
 has given Malawi…){kind=link}