Livingstonia Synod Development Department

28/08/2025

The synod of Livingstonia Synod Development Department has launched two projects in Mzimba and Rumphi districts respectively. For the next 3 and half years, the department will be implementing the CONSERVE MALAWI project in Malidadi, Mzimba district and katowo and Mwazisi in Rumphi district. The department has also launched the Environmental and Economic Sustainability project in Vibangalala, Mzimba district.

The 360,000 Great Britain Pounds (MMK792,000,000) investment under the CONSERVE MALAWI project will enhance livelihoods of 9679 vulnerable households in the fringes of Vwaza game reserve and Nyika National Park as it will provide them pathways to get them out of poverty. The department has lined up activities to improve food and nutrition security, bio diversity conservation and economic empowerment in the two districts. The activities have been framed in a way that they will reduce human and wildlife conflicts in the two areas as they will remove poaching in Vwaza game reserve and Nyika national park as they will remove poaching as a source of survival in the two areas. The project is funded by Jersey Overseas Aid through Tearfund.

Similarly the Environmental and Economic sustainability project will engage local churches and its communities in Vibangalala, Mzimba district to to take on challenges related to food and nutrition insecurity and Economic empowerment. This is being made possible through institutional funding from Tearfund with an annual budget of GBP 30000 (MWK66,000,000)
In his speech, the District Planning and Development officer for Rumphi District applauded the department applauded the synod department for involving the council and communities during proposal development of the project.

In the picture, the presentations being made to the Rumphi District Executive Committee.

27/06/2025

This week, Evangelical Lutheran Development Services (ELDS) together with Livingstonia Synod Development Department (SOLDEV) embarked on a cash transfer exercise to 196 households that were in six camps and have recently relocated to their communities in Karonga district. These households are victims of flooding that occurred in February 2025. This has been made possible with funding from ACTALLIANCE.

Each household is receiving MWK180,000 to assist them in procurement of food, for most that had their crops washed away during the floods.

Below are some of the relieved community members (happy faces) that benefited from the transfer.

NB: consent was obtained for all pictures taken.

28/05/2025

Livingstonia Synod Development Department and Evangelical Lutheran Development Services with funding from Action by Churches Together (ACT) Alliance Rapid Response funds have identified 192 vulnerable households that were affected by floods in Karonga district, that will be beneficiaries of a cash transfer.

These households are those that were in camps due to the floods, but among those are the elderly, critically ill, persons living with disabilities, female and child headed households.

"What makes these people in crisis more vulnerable is that they lost their farm crops and do not have alternative sources of income and are poor" indicated Mr. Felix Minjale, ACT Alliance Coordinator for Malawi Secretriate.

Each household will receive MK180,000 (US$102) which will assist them in procurement of necessities such as food. However, the cash transfer is unconditional.

Currently, preparatory activities are in progress and these include awareness meetings at different levels, community accountability assessments for complaints and feedback mechanisms, targeting as well as verification of beneficiaries.

Karonga District Disaster Risk Management Committee commended the Act alliance partners for the gesture it has made.

The actual cash transfer will be conducted in the first week of June 2025.

Pictures below show an awareness meeting in progress with the District Disaster Risk Management Committee (DDRM).

15/03/2025

12/03/2025

In the picture below, NBS plc and Livingstonia Synod appreciate their new partnership in "protecting the investment initiative", an initiative that aims to plant 200,000 trees by 2026, and ensure a survival rate of not less than 80%.

Tree planting has become a norm for corporate institutions year in year out. Every tree planting season we see banks, insurance companies, water boards and other statutory corporations plant trees. Management of the trees for survival is not of their concern. The end result, zero impact as mostly, less than 30% of the trees survive. What a waste!!

This background initiated the birth of 'protecting the investment' initiative by Livingstonia Synod Development Department, because tree planting has become an investment that lacks protection.

Today, the 12 of March 2025, NBS plc and Livingstonia Synod Development Department planted 7500 trees at Chasimba Village forest area, Traditional Authority Chindi where NBS will support management of the trees through the Livingstonia Synod Development Department. Wow, one of a kind.

The department has put in place activities, working together with the forest area's Village Natural Resource Management Committee and forestry office at the EPA level to ensure that the investment that has been done in the forest is protected. The goal is to have a survival rate of not less than 80% after three years of planting in Chasimba Forest Area.

Way to go SOLDEV, way to go plc