MAZIKO (meaning "Foundation" in Chichewa) is a 5-year project launched in November 2021, aimed at improving child nutrition and development in Ntcheu and Balaka districts in Malawi. It integrates maternal and child grants with government-recommended social and behavior change interventions. The project is implemented by Save the Children and GiveDirectly and reaches nearly 42,000 households with pregnant women and children under 5 years of age. It also includes a significant research component run by IFPRI featuring a cluster randomized trial. This trial evaluates the impact, cost-effectiveness, and scalability of maternal and child grants delivered alongside a multi-sector social and behavior change intervention package to combat malnutrition. The generated evidence will inform Malawi's national social protection system and enhance the country's multi-sector nutrition strategy delivery.
In 2022, several studies were conducted to identify malnutrition drivers and inform the MAZIKO project's design. The studies encompassed a quantitative household survey, qualitative ethnographic study, cost of diet analysis, and district capacity assessment. The identified key drivers of malnutrition include low diet diversity, poor hygiene, inadequate care and stimulation, maternal depression, climate change, food insecurity, poverty, gender inequality, and limited access to services. These findings guide the project's priorities and strategies for addressing malnutrition.
Read and download the MAZIKO project overview here (PDF 5.5 MB)
Read and download the findings from MAZIKO inception studies here (PDF 1.5 MB)
