GTZ has been active in Malawi on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) for more than 30 years. Malawi is a priority partner country for German and international Development Cooperation.

With an annual per capita income of just US$ 160 (World Bank, 2002), Malawi is one of the poorest countries of the world. Among the numerous problems that are obstructing development are low, inequitably distributed incomes, insufficient access to education and primary health care, rapid population growth and an exceptionally high HIV/AIDS infection rate.

Since 1994, Malawi has had free elections and a democratic system. The present Government, elected in May 2004, pursues broad-based poverty alleviation and economic development policies. All development measures are based on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) that was adopted in 2002. The strategy has four pillars: sustainable, poverty-reducing economic growth; human capacity development; improvement of the quality of life for the poorest population groups; and promotion of good governance.

These policies are supported by Malawian-German Development Cooperation in the following priority areas:

• Decentralisation,
• Health,
• Basic education.

In addition, GTZ promotes cross-sectoral projects such as HIV/AIDS prevention and control, a forum for dialogue and peace, prevention of gender-specific violence and the provision of macroeconomic advice to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. In addition, a project (Technical Education Vocational and Enteprenuership Training, TEVET) is being executed to promote employment-relevant vocational training and upgrading. At regional level in Southern Africa (Southern African Development Community, SADC), GTZ supports a community dry forest management programme and an advisory service for chambers of commerce and private enterprises (Advisory Service for Private Business, ASPB).

On behalf of the EU and the Malawian Government, GTZ International Services supports the National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE).

Since 1998, GTZ has maintained an office in Lilongwe.