Maternal and Child Nutrition and Development in Malawi: Findings from MAZIKO Inception Studies

MAZIKO is a new Integrated Maternal and Child Grant research project implemented in Balaka and Ntcheu districts in Malawi. The aim of the project is to improve maternal and child nutrition and development outcomes, by combining maternal and child cash transfers with government endorsed multi-sectoral social and behavior change interventions. In 2022, a number of studies were conducted to identify the key drivers of malnutrition and inform project design. These include a quantitative household survey, a qualitative ethnographic study, a cost of diet analysis and a district capacity assessment. Low diet diversity, poor hygiene, inadequate care and stimulation, maternal depression, climate change, food insecurity, poverty, gender inequality and low access to services were identified as key drivers of malnutrition and priorities for the project to address. The key findings across the studies are summarized in this brief.