A study conducted in 2023 by the think-tank Mwapata Institute on the Malawi Green Corps Initiative has revealed insightful findings. The study highlights higher annual incomes among youth engaged in the intervention compared to those not involved in green initiatives. However, it also raises concerns about the adequacy of personal protective equipment and working materials at project sites.
The Malawi Green Corps, an environmental initiative led by the Malawi Government and financially supported by United Nations Development Project (UNDP), aimed to revitalize 5,000 hectares of degraded land and forests across Malawi. This ambitious project also focused on repurposing waste into valuable products. The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) played a crucial role as the primary implementing agency on behalf of UNDP, concentrating on environmental restoration in critical hotspots within ten districts: Karonga, Mzimba, Lilongwe, Salima, Dedza, Ntcheu, Zomba, Machinga, Mangochi, and Blantyre.
The core objective of the MGC project was to empower youths by providing them with skills and opportunities for sustainable livelihoods through active involvement in environmental management and ecosystem-based adaptation. The project aimed to nurture their capacity and proficiency to pursue and establish green jobs independently.
The project adopted a phased approach, engaging youths in cohorts lasting four months each, over a period of two years. In each cohort, youths were involved in either forest or waste management initiatives. The specific goals included mobilizing and recruiting 2000 youths, providing training and capacity-building initiatives on environmental and forestry management, entrepreneurship, and forestry literacy, managing and rehabilitating 5000 hectares of environmental hotspots, and creating mentorship, peer learning, and networking platforms for youth.
The MwAPATA Institute conducted the study to generate knowledge and provide vital lessons for effectively scaling the project, as well as formulating policy recommendations to amplify the impact of similar future youth-centric programs, says Maggie Munthali Research Fellow at Mwapata Institute
According to Munthali the study employed quantitative and qualitative methods, involving 989 youths (628 MGC project participants and 361 non-MGC project participants), using phone surveys and Key Informant Interviews to assess the project’s impact. The analysis included regression analysis and Propensity Score Matching
Titled Green Jobs for Youth: Insights from Malawi Green Corps Project Learning, the study found that the MGC project significantly enhanced participants’ social, technical, and business skills, income, and overall welfare. MGC participants earned higher incomes and had a reduced likelihood of poverty compared to non-participants. The project also positively affected business development, with a majority of youths starting profitable ventures. For instance, participants in the MGC project had a significantly higher income (MK443,000 per year) than non-MGC participants (MK296,000 per year).
MGC members showed a considerably lower probability of being in poverty than non-members. Approximately 60% of actively engaged youth were involved in profitable business enterprises, with a notable distinction between MGC members (75%) and non-members (30%). Further analysis showed that the project increased the proportion of youths engaged in businesses by 42%.
These outcomes provide valuable lessons for scaling the initiative and inform policy recommendations for future youth-focused programs. However, challenges such as delayed payments, resource scarcity, and poor coordination need to be addressed. Recommendations include enhancing project implementation through improved coordination, deployment of local officers, regular reviews, and allocation of technical support budgets.
