Who We Are
Kusamala Institute of Agriculture and Ecology is a non-governmental organization that promotes agroecology systems in Malawi through demonstration, consultation, education, outreach and advocacy.
We employ agroecology systems such as permaculture d to maximize land productivity, reduce the need for expensive inputs, and increase agricultural diversity to improve nutrition, food security, and livelihoods. In a country where 80% of the population are subsistence farmers, Kusamala demonstrates how locally available resources can meet human needs while improving quality of life for people and the environment.
Our Mission
To demonstrate and advocate for low-input, income generating permaculture and agroecology systems; to extend these systems into local communities through education and outreach; and to research and evaluate their potential to improve Malawian livelihoods. To create a Malawian-run organization that is committed to improving organizational effectiveness through internal career development and specialized training that builds leaders in communities, policy, and government.
Executive Summary
In the year 2022-2023, five projects were implemented aimed at bolstering agricultural resilience, knowledge dissemination, and capacity-building: The Agro-ecology to buffer effects of Ukraine crisis in Malawi Project involved collaboration between the Kusamala Institute of Agriculture and Ecology and Welthungerhilfe, funded by GIZ. It targeted youth in Ntchisi, Dowa, and Lilongwe Districts, focusing on organic compost production and climate-resilient farming techniques to mitigate supply shocks of chemical fertilizers due to the Ukraine conflict. The International Honors Program- Food Systems provided undergraduate students from Georgia, USA, with an immersive learning experience hosted by the Kusamala Institute in Ecuador, Spain, and Malawi. Students engaged directly with local farmers to understand global food systems dynamics and agricultural livelihoods, preparing them for future contributions to equitable and sustainable food systems. Additionally, The Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture in Southern Africa, part of a broader initiative, aimed to scale up organic farming practices across Africa. It facilitated stakeholder engagement events and training sessions involving government institutions, academia, media, and farming communities to promote organic agriculture through knowledge exchange and collaboration.
We also received funding to implement the Better livelihoods through sustainable forest management and Climate change mitigation project, implemented in Mangochi with Welthungerhilfe, focused on regenerating forest areas around Philirongwe Forest Reserve in T/A Nankumba, Chilipa, and Mponda. It aimed to improve livelihoods through sustainable forest management and climate change mitigation efforts. Lastly, The Nutrition Smart communities project which promotes food diversity and resilience among households through nutritionsensitive agriculture interventions, enhancing food security and nutrition among participating communities. This project is being implemented in Mangochi district.
Our Projects
In 2022-2023 financial year, we implemented 5 projects as follows
Better livelihoods through sustainable forest management and climate change mitigation project (MW1061) project
In December 2022, Kusamala started implementation of Better livelihoods through sustainable forest management and climate change mitigation project (MW1061) project in partnership with Welthungerhilfe with funding from Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ). The overall goal of the project is to educate socio-economic impacts of the negative effects of climate change.
This 5-year project will benefit 2400 households as direct beneficiaries in 20 village forest areas within a 5km radius of Philirongwe Forest Reserve in T/A Nankumba, Chilipa and Mponda in Mangochi district. Philirongwe Forest reserve is a government designated forest reserve which faces major risks such as illegal mass charcoal production, encroachment, and cutting down of trees which are threatening its existence.
The project will rehabilitate all degraded areas in the 20 VFAs and develop participatory forest management plans and also look into sustainable agricultural production, hygiene and nutrition of the communities.
Nutrition Smart CommUNITY
Nutrition Smart CommUNITY: Upscaling multisectoral approach towards ‘One Planet-Zero Hunger’ through a multi-country project (MW1069) Is a multinational project implemented in Malawi, Ethiopia and Sierra Leonne with funding from Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)
This is a 3-year project targeting 1500 households with pregnant and lactating mothers in 43 villages surrounding Chilonga Health Centre in TA Nankumba Mangochi district. Its focus is to promote food diversity and resilience among the participating households through the
implementation of nutrition sensitive agriculture interventions. the project is being implemented in partnership with Welthungerhilfe and Civil Society Organization Nutrition Alliance (CSONA).
Agro-ecology to buffer effects of Ukraine crisis in Malawi Project
The Ukraine conflict brought supply shocks to agricultural commodities in Malawi, reducing their availability and driving up prices to the extent that many Malawians, including the youth who rely on agriculture as a source of employment are unable to acquire external inputs for agricultural production in the foreseeable future. With this background, Kusamala Institute of Agriculture and Ecology entered into agreement with WHH with funding from GIZ to build capacity for production of organic compost and other climate resilient farming practices for the youth.
SIT IHP Food Systems: Agriculture, Sustainability, and Justice
The International Honors Program (IHP) offers a unique opportunity for undergraduate students from Georgia in the United States to travel to Ecuador, Spain, and Malawi. Through this program, students explore the complex interplay between food production, distribution, and consumption, and how these processes are influenced by climate change, global trade, and historical inequalities.
As part of their studies, these students engage with a diverse range of experts and practitioners, including farmers, fishers, herders, scientists, activists, and policy experts. They gain first-hand knowledge about various aspects of livelihoods and food production, the implementation and impact of government programs, and the development of innovative food safety and trade regulations.
In Malawi, the students are hosted by the Kusamala Institute of Agriculture and Ecology. During their three-month stay, they immerse themselves in the local culture and agricultural practices by living with a farming family. This experience provides them with an intimate understanding of the daily challenges and successes of local farmers. In addition, the students tour major agricultural production hubs and explore the rich biodiversity of Malawi, deepening their appreciation of the country’s ecological and agricultural landscape.
Overall, the IHP program equips students with a comprehensive understanding of global food systems and the various factors that shape them, preparing them to contribute to more sustainable and equitable food production and distribution practices in the future.
The Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture in Southern Africa (KHSA) is part of the Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture in Africa (KCOA), a collaborative country-led partnership funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and nongovernmental organizations across Africa. The KCOA aims to scale up adoption of organic agriculture and agroecology farming practices through five Knowledge Hubs in Africa.
The South African-based Sustainability Institute supports project implementation in Southern Africa. Activities are being implemented in Zambia by Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Zambia and Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre (KATC); in Namibia by the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) in collaboration with the Namibian Organic Association (NOA); in South Africa by the South African Organic Sector Organisation (SAOSO) in collaboration with
Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture in Southern Africa
PGS South Africa; and in Malawi by Soil, Food and Healthy Communities (SFHC) and Kusamala Institute of Agriculture and Ecology (Kusamala). The other Knowledge Hubs are implemented by GIZ with partner organizations in North, West and Eastern and Central Africa.
During the reporting period, the Kusamala Institute of Agriculture and Ecology hosted a two-day stakeholder engagement event in partnership with the GIZ Green Innovation Centre and the Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture in Southern Africa. This event, titled the Organic & Permaculture Networking Workshop, aimed to build a robust network to promote organic agriculture in Malawi. It sought to gather and share organic agriculture-related information among stakeholders. The workshop saw participation from over 30 stakeholders, including representatives from international and local organizations, government institutions, academia, media, and individual farmers practicing organic farming.
As an outcome of this meeting, Kusamala identified the media as a key stakeholder group to collaborate with. A needs assessment was conducted for journalists and editors, which was followed by training sessions focused on sustainable agriculture practices.
In addition, during the same reporting period, Kusamala co-facilitated a Training of Trainers (ToT) event conducted by the International Federation for Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM). This training was attended by a diverse group of participants, including representatives from various organizations, training institutions, government extension officers from the Ministry of Agriculture, international organization representatives, and private companies involved in facilitating organic agriculture training within the country.
These initiatives underscore the concerted efforts being made to strengthen the organic agriculture sector in Southern Africa, fostering greater collaboration and capacity-building among key stakeholders in the region.
What We Achieved
Our Year in Pictures
Our Impact in Numbers
900 Youths were trained in Introduction to permaculture in three districts of Ntchisi covering TA Kasakula and Malenga; Dowa covering TA Dzoole and Chiwere and Lilongwe covering TA Chimutu under Agro-ecology to buffer effects of Ukraine crisis in Malawi
youths trained
Project
10 editors from 10 media houses were trained in sustainable agriculture with the objective of increasing their understanding and to enable them to support publication of sustainable agriculture related articles.
Editors trained
A total of 20 facilitators were trained as master trainers in organic agriculture under IFOAM ToToT
Master trainers trained
Our Financials
During the financial year from June 2022 to May 2023, Kusamala Institute of Agriculture and Ecology successfully generated MK 37,607,739.59 through a diverse range of activities. These income-generating activities included consultancy services, garden and demonstration garden sales, donations, and management fees accrued from various projects.
In addition to these revenue streams, Kusamala managed several ongoing projects during this period, such as MWI 1072, Nutrition Smart community, Better livelihood project, the Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture in Southern Africa (KHSA), and the International Honors Program (IHP) facilitated by World Learning Inc. These projects contributed significantly to Kusamala's finances, with payroll contributions totaling MK 114,604,114.00.
A detailed breakdown of the income sources reveals that management fees comprised 49% of the total activity income, highlighting their importance in Kusamala’s revenue model. Consultancy services, which included training programs like Introduction to Permaculture, Beekeeping, and Permaculture Design Courses, contributed another 46% of the income. These consultancy services not only provided significant revenue but also reinforced Kusamala's core mission of promoting sustainable agricultural practices and ecological education.
The organization’s expenditures are systematically categorized into two main segments: administrative and operational costs
See tables below for detailed 2022-2023 financial year
Statement of changes in funds balance for the year ended 31 May 2023 in Malawian Kwacha
What We Envision
We are currently pursuing additional funding and training opportunities to strengthen our organization. Our objective is to increase our capability in delivering impactful projects and to extend our initiatives in addressing vital concerns like nutrition, environmental sustainability, and community development. By securing more resources and enhancing our team's expertise, we aim to achieve sustained positive outcomes in Malawi and beyond.
Furthermore, we are in the process of certifying our Mpingu farm as organic. We have partnered with Ecocert, an organic certification organization, for this initiative. Currently, we are mobilizing all necessary resources to support this certification effort.
Our Team
Our team is a diverse group of dedicated professionals, each bringing unique skills and perspectives to the table. United by a shared vision, we work collaboratively to achieve our common goals while fostering an environment of mutual respect and continuous growth. With expertise from various fields, our team is adept at tackling challenges from multiple angles, ensuring innovative solutions and high-quality outcomes.
Board of Directors
Dr. Godfrey Chapola (Board Chairperson)
Atusaye Mwalwanda
Afshan Omar
Chifundo Khokwa
Madalitso Mijiga
Executive Director
Rose Bell
Head office team
Authur Kondowe- Projects Officer
Dorothy Limbanga – Projects Coordinator
Young Chigumula – Acting Finance and Administration Manager
Tiwonge Nkosi- Training and Communications Officer
Thokozani Stambuli – Project Finance Officer
Mphatso Chambo – Logistics Officer
Mwayi Kalonga - Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Officer
Field Officers - Mangochi
Esther Kalumba
Charity Pinde
Beauty Mkandawire
Chrispin Nsato
William Master
Justine Ngulande
Mpingu farm
Oswald Zulu - Farm Manager
Contact Us
For further information, please reach out to us at info@kusamala.org
Physical address: Area 47/5/335
Address: P.O box 30376, Capital Hill, Lilongwe 3
Phone: +265999897676
Website: www.kusamala.com
