[{"bbox": [158, 153, 1073, 295], "category": "Text", "text": "Kulima and Afikepo Mid Term review noted the mismatch in term of targeting of beneficiaries for the production part and the value chain development part, which limited the support to groups with potential to transit and harness agribusiness opportunities. A sizeable number of farmer organisations receiving support under Kulima (production component) engages in high profitability enterprises, but they still lack entrepreneurial and marketing skills and linkages to market opportunities."}, {"bbox": [147, 370, 460, 401], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 3.5 The Intervention Logic"}, {"bbox": [156, 415, 1074, 652], "category": "Text", "text": "The underlying intervention logic for this action is that no economic growth and sustainable transformation of food systems in Malawi will happen if the country's natural capital is not restored and preserved and if smallholder farmers and agri-business operators will not have better market and financial opportunities, and if the nutritional status of the population is not improved. Improved management of Malawi's natural capital and better nutrition will provide economic returns to communities, including (but not only) under the form of increased agriculture productivity. Smallholder farmers with surplus will be linked to promising markets and off-takers, and private sector operators will be financially supported to create decent jobs and economic returns for their communities"}, {"bbox": [156, 666, 1074, 933], "category": "Text", "text": "The main underlying assumptions for the Action are that (i) agricultural commercialisation and environmental protection remain at the core of the political priorities in the medium term, as stated in the Malawi 2063, (ii) the Government will be able to progressively shift public investments to areas with proven potential for agricultural and economic growth, including agricultural diversification and nutrition, and (iii) the Government will strive to operationalise the multisectoral institutional framework for environment and climate change. The EU will engage Government in regular and structured policy dialogue around these priorities. Furthermore, the Action will be accompanied by a solid monitoring and evidence collection and analysis framework (including sex specific data), in partnership with local academia, which will feed information into the policy dialogue."}, {"bbox": [156, 944, 1074, 1105], "category": "Text", "text": "The Action will take a two-pronged approach, working at district level and developing and implementing territorial relevant activities, both for natural resource management as well as agricultural commercialisation. At the same time, it will strengthen the central capacities to coordinate the transformation of food systems of Malawi. The two components of the Action will be implemented in the same districts, with priority given to those districts where there is need to unlock the growth potential of past EU funding."}, {"bbox": [156, 1115, 1074, 1593], "category": "Text", "text": "The Action will support the strengthening of districts' capacities to deliver on their environmental and development plans. Thorough a call for proposal, and dedicated technical assistance, the Action will partner with and fund a number of districts to improve their land use planning, watershed management, soil conservation/regeneration and forest cover. These territorial specific activities will be complemented by assistance at central level to various ministries involved in the management of the natural capital of Malawi, including exploring the possibility of introducing Payment for Ecosystem Services. This two pronged approach will contribute to the achievement of SO1 (Preserve, restore and regenerate the natural resource base and its diverse ecosystems). At the same time, the Action will identify promising economic actors (farmer organisations, particularly women led) in need of a graduation from the subsistence production model, through strengthened technical capacities and better linkages to markets and financial opportunities. This will contribute to SO 2 (develop of territorial relevant sustainable and inclusive value chains). Finally, as better nutrition improves productivity and income opportunities for the individuals, the Action will streamline nutrition-sensitive activities in the communities where farmer organisations are supported, hence contributing to SO 3 (improve nutritional status of targeted Malawi population). The Action will support academia institution to carry out participatory action research around the activities of the Greening and Growing components. This will not only strengthen the EU partnership with Malawian academia but also provide a third-party independent iterative assessment of the EU actions in Malawi."}, {"bbox": [966, 1681, 1081, 1705], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 12 of 24"}]