The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) has called on structures at council levels and all stakeholders to exercise impartiality and honesty in the implementation of the 2022/23 Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme (LS-FIRP) targeting food insecure populations as projected by the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC).

MVAC projected that 3.8 million people will be food insecure in 27 districts (except Likoma) and four cities of the country during the 2022/23 lean season (November 2022 to March 2023) leading to the development of the (LS-FIRP) to assist in resource mobilization and guide the response intervention.

Speaking in Mangochi during a full council meeting on the implementation of the 2022/23 LS-FIRP, DoDMA’s Director of Response and Recovery Rev. Moses Chimphepo said authorities need to take an active role in ensuring that only the less privileged benefit from the programme.

“As a department, our role is to provide councils with all the necessary resources and technical assistance for the implementation of the programme. Targeting of beneficiaries is solely the responsibility of local structures such as the village and area civil protection committees. As authorities, let us conduct verification exercises to ensure that only the intended people benefit from the assistance.

“The office of the District Commissioners should work hand in hand with traditional authorities in ensuring honesty and iron out all malpractices that may impede the smooth implementation of the programme,” said Chimphepo.

In his remarks, Mangochi District Council Chairperson Ivy Sande concurred with Chimphepo stressing that authorities should be vigilant in verifying beneficiaries of the programme.

“Let us ensure that economically stable households are not benefiting at the expense of the marginalized, specifically child-headed families living in dire situations,” said Sande.

DoDMA is meeting and sensitizing councils whose beneficiaries will receive assistance for four months (November 2022 to March 2023) under the LS-FIRP, which is also known as the MVAC Humanitarian Response Programme.