CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES BOOSTS SMEs IN MALAWI

The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has reaffirmed its commitment in aiding Malawi as one way of achieving its Vision 2063 with a particular focus on the development of small businesses in the Country.

This has been highlighted on 24th September 2024, in Lilongwe during a Business Acceleration Event and the awarding of certificates to small businesses that have benefited from CRS’s initiatives.

Chrispin Magombo, Intergration Lead at CRS expressed the organization’s satisfaction with the progress made by Small and Medium Enterprises under their support.

“We are pleased with the significant changes in how these businesses are operating, we have all witnessed how these SMEs are doing. And our goal is to improve the lives of people in the country,” Magombo stated. “Currently, there is a major issue in the country with people finding employment, which is why we (CRS) are working with young people to help them become self-reliant. We have seen that they are doing well in their businesses, some are producing fish products, others are producing cooking oil and honey, and others are involved in various types of farming.”

The Director responsible for Small and Medium Enterprises at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Limbikani Kachiwaya praised CRS for its efforts in developing small businesses and supporting the country’s vision for trade.

“I have seen that the work our colleagues at CRS are doing aligns with the plans and vision that the government of Malawi has for 2063, particularly the Ministry of Trade, in terms of developing companies that produce various products,” Kachiwaya remarked.

One of the beneficiaries, Timothy Munthali, a Manager for Tawonga Cooking Oil and Animal Feed Enterprises from Embangweni in Mzimba district, applauded CRS for their invaluable support, saying that it has help to build their business.

“Through the training and support provided by CRS, our business has greatly benefited in terms of producing cooking oil and has helped our business grow as now we are able to produce more than 5000 litres of Cooking Oil per week” Munthali said.

Over the past year, CRS Malawi piloted a K500 million ($289,000) Business Acceleration Project under the Malawi Food Crisis Fund. The goal of the Business Accelerator Project was to strengthen the capacity and investor readiness of early-stage inclusive businesses preparing to scale.

CRS targeted business models focused on positive social impact through their products and services and inclusivity in their business models. In addition to enterprise capacity strengthening and Business Development Services (BDS), the businesses were provided with micro grants ranging from K17 million ($10,000) to K25 million ($15,000), tied to business growth milestones and work plans.

10 Malawian Businesses benefited from the project which started in January 2023, in Lilongwe, Blantyre Mchinji, Dedza and Mzimba districts, and will come to an end on September 30, 2024

As the project draws to a close, the impact of CRS’s efforts is evident in the growth and development of the small businesses involved. The organization remains committed to supporting Malawi’s Vision 2063 and fostering a thriving business environment that benefits all Malawians.