The LGPI in Malawi: Selected Findings on Livelihood (2016)

Daily life for the average Malawian is characterized by an array of challenges. Given their reliance on subsistence agriculture, exposure to frequent climate shocks, and lack of a robust social safety net, many of the country’s citizens are trapped in a cycle of poverty. In response to these challenges, Malawians have developed a variety of coping mechanisms, primarily of an interpersonal nature. While there is some regional variation, the majority of Malawians report helping one another and engaging in mutually beneficial collective action on a regular basis. This reflects the fact that Malawian communities tend to be cohesive. It also reflects widely held perceptions that citizens must rely on each other, and not the state, when it comes to providing social insurance. That said, Malawians participate in formal politics at a high rate.