Cash plus for Nutrition in Malawi: Findings from mid-term evaluations of the MAZIKO project

MAZIKO is a cash plus for nutrition project that combines maternal and child cash transfers and “plus” social and behaviour change interventions to improve nutrition and child development outcomes in two districts of Malawi. Quantitative and qualitative midterm evaluations were conducted to evaluate the short-term effects of this cash “plus” approach during the lean season. The evaluations found that the cash plus package protected household food security, maternal and child diets and maternal mental health and wellbeing during the lean season, but climate and economic shocks “countered” the interventions effects. These findings support advocacy calls to expand Malawi’s social protection programme to reach all mothers and children under 2 years.