World Bank Lauds SSRLP impact

World Bank Practice Manager for Eastern and Southern Africa, Loli Arribas-Baños, has described the Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project (SSRLP) as one of the best-performing World Bank-funded projects in Malawi.

Arribas-Baños made the remarks in Zomba during a visit to appreciate the project’s impact in the district. She toured the initiative alongside the Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Honourable Mary Navicha, MP, where they toured various SSRLP initiatives.

Speaking to journalists after the engagement, Arribas-Baños praised the project’s achievements across all components. She highlighted the Livelihood Support Programmes’ focus on economically empowering beneficiaries, noting that it equips participants with productive assets and income-generating skills that enable households to sustain themselves even after the project phases out.

“The livelihoods programme is useful as it gives beneficiaries an opportunity to continue bringing income to the household after the project has phased out and productive assets that will help them not to fall back into ultra-poverty when the project ends,” she said, adding that the World Bank will continue supporting Malawi’s social protection programmes.

Addressing beneficiaries at Pilimiti–Makawa ground, Minister Navicha commended the SSRLP for its wide-ranging impact. She noted that beyond restoring the environment through the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme, the project has empowered communities through participation in Savings and Loan Groups.

The Minister also praised value addition initiatives implemented by COMSIP, and expressed optimism that these initiatives would be scaled up to reach more people.

COMSIP is implementing the Livelihoods Support component by mobilizing social protection beneficiaries into SLGs. Through these groups, participants are trained in financial literacy, business management, and income-generating activities aimed at improving household resilience and reducing ultra-poverty.