Last week, CDF Canada joined partners, community leaders, and government representatives in Lilongwe to celebrate a major milestone: the official launch of the Integrating Aquaculture–Agriculture to Combat Food Insecurity in Malawi (IAAM) Project. After a year of intensive planning, technical development, and close collaboration across sectors, the project has now transitioned from preparation into full implementation.
Held on December 5 Lilongwe, Malawi, the launch ceremony brought together an extraordinary group of partners and supporters. The IAAM Project, a multi-year initiative designed to strengthen food security by helping small-scale farmers, particularly women, adopt integrated aquaculture–agriculture systems, aims to increase productivity, improve household incomes, and build climate-resilient livelihoods across Malawi.
The event brought together a wide range of national and international stakeholders, including:
The program opened with traditional dance performances and a tour of pavilions showcasing local aquaculture and agriculture innovations. Throughout the ceremony, speakers emphasized the urgency and opportunity of strengthening Malawi’s food systems through integrated, climate-smart approaches.
Mrs. Erica Maganga, in her keynote address, underscored the project’s alignment with Malawi’s national goals for agricultural commercialization and climate resilience. She highlighted the importance of coordinated, community-rooted approaches that empower farmers with both technical and organizational skills.
Ambassador Anne Sofie Bjelland reaffirmed Norway’s commitment to supporting Malawi’s food security and rural economic development, emphasizing the value of long-term partnership and the critical role of women in driving agricultural transformation.
A defining moment of the event was the unveiling of the newly validated Integrated Aquaculture–Agriculture Systems (IAAS) Handbook, now adopted as Module 9 in Malawi’s official Aquaculture Manual. The ribbon-cutting ceremony that followed symbolized not just the official launch of the IAAM project, but the beginning of a strengthened national approach to integrated agriculture.
Behind this launch lies a year of intensive collaboration. The IAAS Handbook was developed through a participatory process that brought together expertise from LUANAR, government departments, fisheries and agriculture specialists, gender and extension officers, and local implementing partners. Through field validations, curriculum workshops, and technical reviews, the manual was shaped to reflect the real needs of smallholder farmers while aligning with national strategies for climate adaptation, food security, and agricultural commercialization.
Its validation and adoption as Module 9 of Malawi’s official Aquaculture Manual give it not only credibility, but national reach. The handbook now serves as a comprehensive, standardized training tool that equips farmers, extension workers, and partners with the technical, organizational, and business skills required to successfully implement integrated aquaculture–agriculture systems.
With the project now in motion, attention turns to implementation across priority districts. A Master Training of Trainers has already begun preparing national experts to cascade IAAS training, with Lead Farmer trainings to follow. Forty demonstration ponds and integrated field sites are being established as hands-on learning hubs; critical spaces where farmers can observe, test, and adapt IAAS practices.
New water-quality testing equipment will support routine monitoring, improving environmental management and generating valuable data to guide decision-making. These steps lay the foundation for resilient, climate-smart production systems that improve incomes, expand market opportunities, and strengthen communities, particularly for women and youth who anchor Malawi’s agricultural sector.
The launch of the IAAM project represents a collective commitment to sustainable development and long-term resilience. It embodies the belief that when communities are equipped with practical tools, strong partnerships, and accessible knowledge, they can build food systems capable of withstanding climate pressures and supporting inclusive economic growth.
As IAAM moves forward, CDF Canada is honoured to continue working alongside our partners in Malawi and the Government of Norway. Together, we look ahead to the meaningful, lasting impact this project will generate for smallholder farmers, cooperatives, and communities across the country.
