Approximately 4 million people (22 percent of the analysed population) are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, classified as IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse) between October 2025 and March 2026 – the lean season in Malawi. Of that total, 8,000 people are facing critical levels of acute food insecurity, IPC Phase 4 (Emergency), driven by high food prices, economic decline and below average agricultural production. Phase 4 is characterised by large food gaps and high levels of acute malnutrition. These people urgently require Immediate, life-saving assistance to prevent a catastrophe.

Most of the populations in Phase 3 or above are urban poor and low-income households in rural areas who are not able to produce enough of their own food and are dependent on crisis coping strategies to meet their food needs through market purchases. These strategies include harvesting immature crops, reducing expenses on essential health, and exchanging labour for food due to lack of resources or money to buy food. The situation is exacerbated by the persisting depreciate of the Malawian kwacha against major currencies, including the US dollar, Euro and the South African Rand, the high transportation cost and high food prices.

The food insecurity situation is a significant deterioration from the current period (May to September 2025), where 2.9 million people (16 percent of the analysed population) experienced high levels of acute food insecurity (Phase 3 or above) and no people were classified in Phase 4. The deteriorating situation is driven by high temperatures that reduced irrigated crop production, further worsening food insecurity and triggered an earlier onset of the lean season.

• Ensure humanitarian assistance for populations in IPC Phase 3 or above, focusing on timely food distributions to prevent further deterioration of food security and nutrition, especially among vulnerable groups.
• Promote winter and irrigated cropping in areas with residual moisture and reliable water sources. Facilitating and guaranteeing the timely supply and distribution of inputs such as seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides during the winter season can help boost agricultural productivity and household food stocks.
• Maintain adequate maize stocks through ADMARC to stabilise staple food prices. Sufficient grain reserves will help ensure food availability and affordability during periods of scarcity.
• Promote food and dietary diversification to enhance nutrition outcomes. Disseminating key messages on the importance of varied and balanced diets and encouraging the production and consumption of nutrient-rich crops can support healthier communities.
• Improve feeding practices and post-harvest management to reduce food loss and waste. Training farmers and communities in better storage, handling, and processing techniques is critical to preserving food quality and availability.
• Support livelihood diversification to reduce dependence on rain-fed agriculture. Promoting small businesses, vocational training, and value-added agricultural activities can help households build resilience and improve income stability.
• Strengthen disaster risk reduction and early warning systems to prepare for and mitigate the impacts of climatic shocks such as droughts, floods, and pest infestations.