The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) is grappling with a K148 billion funding shortfall to fully implement the national lean season response plan aimed at assisting Malawians facing hunger.

Commissioner for Disaster Management, Wilson Mollen, said the department has so far secured K61 billion, which has been used to purchase maize currently being distributed to about four million people expected to experience food shortages between October 2025 and March 2026.

Mollen made the remarks on Monday at Capital Hill during a ceremony where First Capital Bank (FCB) deposited K210 million to the treasury in support of the hunger response efforts.

FCB Chief Executive Officer, Agness Jazza, said the bank found it important to contribute to national initiatives aimed at helping vulnerable communities and addressing food insecurity.

“As a responsible corporate citizen, we believe that supporting government efforts to fight hunger is part of our commitment to the well-being of Malawians,” said Jazza.

Meanwhile, Minister of Finance Joseph Mwanamvekha said the government has developed an inter-ministerial plan to strengthen resilience against future disasters. However, he stressed that more support is needed from the private sector and development partners.

“Government alone cannot meet the growing humanitarian needs. We are calling on companies and our development partners to come forward and assist,” Mwanamvekha said.

According to DoDMA, the secured K61 billion is being utilized for maize procurement and ongoing distribution efforts in districts hardest hit by food insecurity.

The launch of the lean season response plan was held in Neno District on Monday, November 3, 2025. Neno is the hardest-hit district among the 11 districts flagged by the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) report, which projected that 40 percent of the district’s 156,000 residents are food insecure. The report ranks Neno first among the 11 districts declared food insecure.

Despite these efforts, the department says additional resources are urgently required to reach all affected communities before the peak of the lean season.