Photo: UN Women Malawi

More than 300 refugee women at Dzaleka Refugee Camp are benefiting from a bio-organic fertiliser initiative aimed at strengthening food security and improving economic resilience.

The initiative is being implemented through Solidarity of Refugee Women for Social Welfare (SOFERES), a refugee women-led organisation, in partnership with UN Women and with support from the Government of Japan.

The project is supporting refugee women with skills and technology to produce and supply bio-organic fertiliser, creating income-generating opportunities while increasing access to agricultural inputs.

Japanese Ambassador to Malawi Naito Yasushi said refugee women are among those most affected by food insecurity and that the initiative aims to improve household food security, strengthen resilience and reduce dependence on external support.

Image credit: Francois Ebengo / Dzaleka Online

Yasushi also commended Malawi for its continued commitment to hosting refugees and expressed optimism that the knowledge and skills gained by the women would help create lasting resilience.

UN Women Interim Country Representative Fatima Mohammed said the initiative is expected to increase the availability of affordable farm inputs while helping to address Malawi's reliance on imported agricultural inputs.

Mohammed said proceeds from the production and sale of bio-organic fertiliser would enable participating women to support their families while contributing to the country's economy.

Commissioner for Refugees in the Department of Refugees Ignacio Maulana said the fertiliser-making skills have come at an important time, as this is the final month that camp residents are expected to receive support from the World Food Programme.

Maulana said the skills would help refugees become more self-reliant and improve their livelihoods.

The initiative also seeks to strengthen women's participation in local agricultural markets by positioning them as producers and suppliers of bio-organic fertiliser.

More than 300 refugee women are benefiting from the project, which is expected to run until February 2027.