This study was commissioned by the Government of Malawi’s National Safety Nets
Unit in conjunction with the Malawi Social Action Fund (MASAF), and funded by the
UK Department for International Development, Malawi.
The goal of the Malawi National Safety Net Programme is to improve the livelihoods
of the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in society by enhancing their
productivity and increasing their self reliance4 and Public Works Programmes (PWP)
form an important component of the overall strategy for addressing this goal.
MASAF was established in 1995 in order to contribute to the Government of
Malawi’s objectives of alleviating poverty. Its programme evolved in conjunction with
the development of the Government’s Decentralisation Policy of 1998, the National
Safety Net Strategy (NSNS) adopted in 2001, and the Poverty Reduction Strategy in
April 2002. The current design of the MASAF programme (MASAF III) is based on
the principles of Community Driven Development which include empowering
communities and local governments.5 The goal of the NSNS and MASAF is “To
improve livelihoods of the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in Malawi
though productivity enhancement and increased self reliance.” MASAF is the largest
PWP employer, having been implementing PWPs since 1995, and aims to provide
income and employment opportunities that contribute to longer term economic
growth6. The study came about in response to concerns raised by PWP workers,
implementing agencies and donors that the wage rate paid by public works
programmes in Malawi might not be consistent with the policy objective of improving livelihoods