Malawi to lose 90% UK aid
In yet another growing evidence of donor fatigue, the United Kingdom (UK) Government has announced plans to cut its international development budget to Malawi for 2026/27 fiscal year by 60 percent, but will expand to 90 percent by the 2028/29 fiscal year. Based on the Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Annual Report and … The post Malawi to lose 90% UK aid appeared first on Nation Online.
Black News 
In yet another growing evidence of donor fatigue, the United Kingdom (UK) Government has announced plans to cut its international development budget to Malawi for 2026/27 fiscal year by 60 percent, but will expand to 90 percent by the 2028/29 fiscal year.
Based on the Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Annual Report and Accounts 2025–2026, the UK supported Malawi with £50.245 million (about K117.6 billion), but will this year reduce to £20 million (about K46.8 billion).
Based on that report, the amount will further shrink to £10m (about K23.4 billion) in the 2027/28 financial year and finally to £5 million (about K11.7 billion) in the 2028/29 financial year.
It reads in part: “The UK has modernised its approach to development and reprioritised Official Development Assistance [ODA] around new development partnership categories, aligning allocations with UK interests and partner needs, introducing a streamlined country offer, and applying the ‘four shifts’ to partnerships as demonstrated in Pakistan, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.”
Commenting on the development on its website, Scotland Malawi Partnership (SMP) chief executive officer Stuart Brown said the UK aid for the Africa region falls from £1.449 billion to £693.8 million, a reduction of 52 percent.
He said: “Already Malawians face multiple daily challenges, economic fragility and the devastating impacts of the climate crisis. Some of the most vulnerable women, children and families in Malawi will suffer as a result of these cuts.”
In May, discussants at a panel discussion themed ‘The future of aid in Malawi: Implications on governance and development’ stressed the need for Malawi to focus on home-grown solutions to achieve meaningful development amid donor fatigue.
Convened by University of Malawi (Unima) Professors Happy Kayuni and Michael Chasukwa in collaboration with University of Oslo Professor Dan Banik in Blantyre, the discussion reflected on the changing global aid environment and Malawi’s preparedness for a future with reduced donor support.
During pre-budget consultations for the 2026/27 fiscal year, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation Joseph Mwanamvekha said additional external support is needed in key sectors such as food security, education and health to cushion citizens from the rising cost of living.
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