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NCA-DCA Impressed with ILIAR Project Progress

Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and Danish Church Aid (DCA) have expressed satisfaction with the progress of the on-going Improved Livelihood and Resilience (ILIAR) project.

 

The initiative is being implemented by the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM) of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe in Dowa District.

 

These remarks were made by DCA Programme Director, Cecelie Bjornskov Johanson, on Monday January 26, 2026 after touring project sites and meeting beneficiaries at Kunkhulire Village, under Traditional Authority Mponera.

DCA Programme Director Cecelie Bjornskov Johanson (right) listens as CADECOM officials explain the sustainable agricultural techniques being adopted by farmers in Kunkhulire Village
DCA Programme Director Cecelie Bjornskov Johanson (right) listens as CADECOM officials explain the sustainable agricultural techniques being adopted by farmers in Kunkhulire Village

 

Johanson highlighted that it is encouraging to see how, in a short period, the project has already begun uplifting the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and their households.

 

According to her, the ILIAR project is an agroecology initiative designed to empower smallholder farmers with sustainable agricultural knowledge.

Johanson applauded the Catholic Church and CADECOM for their commitment and strong relationship with development partners, noting that such collaborations fulfill the mission of building the human person in totality.

 

“Let me applaud the Catholic Church for this partnership. While we provide the financial support, they are on the ground successfully implementing the projects,” she added.

 

In his remarks, the National Director of Social Development Directorate at the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB), Fr. Patrick Kamba mentioned that the Catholic Church is committed to uplifting the livelihoods of families because it recognizes that a human being consists of both body and spirit.

Fr. Patrick Kamba, National Social Development Director, emphasizes the need for further donor support to scale the church’s holistic development efforts across Malawi
Fr. Kamba emphasizes the need for further donor support

“I urge more donors to come forward and assist so that we can reach more Malawians in need,” Fr. Kamba said.

Fr. Kamba noted that while the church is putting in significant effort to reach as many families as possible, they are often limited by financial constraints.

He called on more donors to support the initiative to help the church fulfill its mission of holistic development.

Theresa Kapachika, an agroecology champion from Kunkhulire Village, expressed her gratitude for the visit from NCA and DCA.

When international support meets local expertise, livelihoods are transformed.
When international support meets local expertise, livelihoods are transformed

Kapachika shared that the project has transformed the lives of local farmers and that issues of hunger are becoming a thing of the past.

She encouraged her fellow community members to continue working hard to maintain the trust of their donors and ensure the project’s lasting success.

 

By Peter Dumayo

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