Malawi: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development

In this policy brief, we present findings of a systematic evaluation and ranking of investment options for Malawi’s agrifood system based on their cost-effectiveness in achieving multiple development outcomes, including agrifood gross domestic product (GDP) growth, agrifood job creation, poverty red...

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Autores principales: Aragie, Emerta A., Kankwamba, Henry, Pauw, Karl, Thurlow, James, Jones, Eleanor
Formato: Brief
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Food Policy Research Institute 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177134
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author Aragie, Emerta A.
Kankwamba, Henry
Pauw, Karl
Thurlow, James
Jones, Eleanor
author_browse Aragie, Emerta A.
Jones, Eleanor
Kankwamba, Henry
Pauw, Karl
Thurlow, James
author_facet Aragie, Emerta A.
Kankwamba, Henry
Pauw, Karl
Thurlow, James
Jones, Eleanor
author_sort Aragie, Emerta A.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In this policy brief, we present findings of a systematic evaluation and ranking of investment options for Malawi’s agrifood system based on their cost-effectiveness in achieving multiple development outcomes, including agrifood gross domestic product (GDP) growth, agrifood job creation, poverty reduction, declining undernourishment, and lowering diet deprivation. Additionally, the study assesses their environmental footprint, focusing on water consumption, land use, and emissions. Investments in small and medium enterprise (SME) processors, seed systems, and farmers credit are shown to be the most cost-effective at driving improvements in social outcomes, like poverty and undernourishment. They are also highly ranked in terms of expanding agrifood GDP and employment. Investments in extension and advisory services for livestock, SME traders, and seed subsidy also rank high. However, many cost-effective investments have relatively high environmental footprints, which highlights potential tradeoffs. The study further reveals shifts in the cost-effectiveness ranking of in vestment options overtime and when extreme production shocks occur.
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spelling CGSpace1771342025-11-06T04:21:23Z Malawi: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development Aragie, Emerta A. Kankwamba, Henry Pauw, Karl Thurlow, James Jones, Eleanor agrifood systems development investment economic aspects environmental impact In this policy brief, we present findings of a systematic evaluation and ranking of investment options for Malawi’s agrifood system based on their cost-effectiveness in achieving multiple development outcomes, including agrifood gross domestic product (GDP) growth, agrifood job creation, poverty reduction, declining undernourishment, and lowering diet deprivation. Additionally, the study assesses their environmental footprint, focusing on water consumption, land use, and emissions. Investments in small and medium enterprise (SME) processors, seed systems, and farmers credit are shown to be the most cost-effective at driving improvements in social outcomes, like poverty and undernourishment. They are also highly ranked in terms of expanding agrifood GDP and employment. Investments in extension and advisory services for livestock, SME traders, and seed subsidy also rank high. However, many cost-effective investments have relatively high environmental footprints, which highlights potential tradeoffs. The study further reveals shifts in the cost-effectiveness ranking of in vestment options overtime and when extreme production shocks occur. 2025-10-14 2025-10-15T19:34:03Z 2025-10-15T19:34:03Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177134 en https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176185 https://hdl.handle.net/10568/174466 https://hdl.handle.net/10568/174467 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Aragie, Emerta; Kankwamba, Henry; Pauw, Karl; Thurlow, James; and Jones, Eleanor. 2025. Malawi: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development. Agrifood Investment Prioritization Country Series Brief 6. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177134
spellingShingle agrifood systems
development
investment
economic aspects
environmental impact
Aragie, Emerta A.
Kankwamba, Henry
Pauw, Karl
Thurlow, James
Jones, Eleanor
Malawi: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development
title Malawi: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development
title_full Malawi: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development
title_fullStr Malawi: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development
title_full_unstemmed Malawi: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development
title_short Malawi: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development
title_sort malawi cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development
topic agrifood systems
development
investment
economic aspects
environmental impact
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177134
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AT pauwkarl malawicosteffectiveoptionsforinclusiveandsustainabledevelopment
AT thurlowjames malawicosteffectiveoptionsforinclusiveandsustainabledevelopment
AT joneseleanor malawicosteffectiveoptionsforinclusiveandsustainabledevelopment