Malawi launches US$400,000 AGRA-funded SPICE Project to create youth jobs in agriculture

MALAWI – The Government of Malawi has launched a K720 million (US$400,000) project to create jobs for young people and strengthen the country’s agri-food systems.

Funded by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the initiative was unveiled on Tuesday at Chikho Hotel in Mponela, Dowa.

The Strengthening Policy Implementation and Institutional Capacity for Youth Employment Creation and Agri-Food Systems Transformation in Malawi (SPICE) project aims to connect youth employment policies with the agriculture sector, which drives the national economy.

The US$400,000 (about K720 million) grant from AGRA will help the Ministry of Youth and Sports work closely with other ministries to improve policy coordination and implementation.

Dina Gumulira, Director of Technical Services in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, said the project marks a major step in addressing Malawi’s growing youth unemployment challenge.

“This project is meant to strengthen the policy environment for youth empowerment and respond to issues affecting our agri-food systems,” she said. “Malawi’s population is predominantly young, yet many lack opportunities. SPICE seeks to bridge that gap by promoting inclusivity and employment through agriculture.”

She added that the agriculture sector, which remains the backbone of Malawi’s economy, holds vast potential for youth participation in value chains such as soybeans, groundnuts, and maize.

“By involving youth in these value chains, we are empowering them economically and contributing to national development,” Gumulira explained. “The project aligns with Malawi 2063 and the National Youth Policy, promoting youth participation, market access, and value addition.”

Policy coordination and legal reform

The event brought together government officials, civil society, youth leaders, and development partners. Discussions focused on how the project will help reform existing frameworks to better serve young people.

Eluphy Nyirenda, AGRA’s Country Director for Malawi, said the project supports national reforms aimed at creating job opportunities in the agriculture sector.

“This grant supports the Ministry of Youth and other collaborating ministries to implement reforms that will create jobs for young Malawians,” Nyirenda said. “It falls under a Mastercard-funded program that identified policy gaps affecting youth engagement.”

She pointed out that inconsistent legal definitions remain a barrier to youth development. “For example, there’s no law that clearly defines who a ‘young person’ is in Malawi,” she noted. “This lack of clarity across legal frameworks hampers effective youth programming. SPICE will align all youth-related policies and laws to the Malawi 2063 vision.”

Nyirenda added that AGRA’s support will help strengthen collaboration between the Ministries of Youth, Agriculture, Trade, and Industry, which are also receiving grants under the same program.

The SPICE project will also form a Reference Group to provide technical guidance and track progress. As youth unemployment continues to rise, both government and partners see this initiative as key to helping young Malawians become active contributors to national growth.

“This is more than just a project,” Gumulira emphasized. “It is a renewed commitment by government and AGRA to ensure that no young Malawian is left behind in the country’s journey toward inclusive and sustainable growth.”

The launch follows recent efforts by Malawi’s Ministry of Youth to expand skills training programs and link young entrepreneurs to agricultural value chains, signaling a stronger national focus on youth-led growth.

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