Food Security & Livelihoods
HIV/AIDS has removed many productive members of society, meaning the average Malawian household is food insecure. The traditional support base, extended family, is overstretched and often unable to provide for OVCs. The average OVC household is ill equipped with farming knowledge and skills. This all too often means low crop production and malnutrition for OVCs.
Sustainable programs need to be developed to promote food security and improved nutrition. We do this through our community-based members, to empower OVC households, the most vulnerable segment of the Malawi population.
This program also helps the community become more skilled and enthusiastic about their livelihoods. Some of our members run programs that address the food security crisis in selected areas and districts. Other districts across the country require training and technical assistance on this important issue.
NOVOC seeks to accomplish this program through our members, based in local communities across Malawi.
Issu Statement
Across Malawi, there has been a mushrooming of organisations that deal with OVCs. Generally, they don’t address food security. Often, interventions deal only with handouts and are therefore unsustainable.
As our members work in their local community, they are best placed to deal with the food security issue at the grass roots level. NOVOC supports our members in this role, through capacity-building, training and start-up funds for inputs.
Program Goal
- Build capacity of our members to more effectively support OVCs and their households to increase their food security.
- Through this, enable OVCs to realize their fullest potential and to meaningfully contribute to national development.
