The EU assists Malawi to improve 1,500 km of rural feeder roads

During the month of March, the European Union (EU) Delegation to Malawi has agreed to finance contracts worth € 13.15 million – approximately MWK 2.7 billion – with a view to assist in improving rural feeder roads in Malawi. The EU-funding will help upgrade 1,500 km of feeder roads to ensure year-round access. It will contribute to increasing the roads' capacity to carry more and heavier traffic, which will promote agricultural production in the rural areas concerned. Six contracts have been signed with small and medium size Malawian companies.
On 26 March, the Government of Malawi and Malawian contractors signed works contracts worth € 4.13 million to cover activities on road sections in all three regions of Malawi. Activities include gravelling of short-sections, improved drainage facilities and repair and replacement of bridges. These spot improvements on rural roads will mainly use labor intensive constructions techniques, favoring employment of local communities. They will make the selected sections accessible throughout the year. Another contract, signed with a South-African construction company in consortium with a Malawian company, will ensure the upgrading of 26 km of the S118 Mchinji-Kawere road. To date, this road provides access from an area of strong agricultural production to the main Lilongwe-Mchinji road, but it carries a level and type of traffic that is far beyond the capacity of an unpaved feeder road. This road will now be surfaced with a bituminous seal to a standard that is appropriate for the traffic level and type.
In order to prepare the District Assemblies for their increased role in managing the local road network, yet another contract was signed with a European consulting company to put in place the road management tools required by the Assemblies to plan, prioritise and manage the maintenance of local area road networks that fall under their direct responsibility. This will be complemented with a training and skills enhancement programme for rural road network managers. The project features a study which specifically examines impacts of improved rural transport for women.
The Rural Feeder Road Programme of € 15 million falls under the 9th European Development Fund. Its overall objective is to improve food security and increase small-holder farmers' incomes by better linking growth areas to the main road network. The Roads Authority will supervise the contracts in close collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the District Assemblies.