Growing Our Malawi Partnership

2025 is the UN’s International Year of Co-operatives, and our Malawi Partnership is a demonstration of how  our Society is working to encourage Co-op to Co-op trade to build a better world and reduce global inequality.  

Now entering its fourth year, the Partnership is all about building relationships with local farmers and producers in Malawi empowering them through trade, instead of aid.

Back in the UK, it’s enabling Co-op Members and customers to purchase a range of fantastic products from Malawi including  chocolate-dipped macadamia nuts, rich Malawian blend tea and coffee and award winning Kilombero rice. Thanks to the support of Central Co-op Members and customers, we’ve sold more than 700,000 products with sales expecting to top £1 million this year.

Earlier this month, our Chief Executive, Debbie Robinson visited Malawi to see how the on the ground projects supported by the Partnership are building trading capacity by ensuring better working conditions and fairer payment for products grown by smallholder farmers.

Watch this short video to hear Debbie’s reflections from her visit:

Watch this video – 2 mins

Coverage in Malawi

During her visit, Debbie was interviewed by MBC News (Malawi’s equivalent of the BBC) about the transformative work that the Partnership has delivered the past 3 years.

Watch this video - 4 minutes

Other highlights from Debbie’s Itinerary included  -

·       A kick off meeting with the  our ‘on the ground’, partners - The Malawi Federation of Co-operatives’ (MAFECO) offices in Lilongwe,

·       A visit to the Highland Macadamia Co-operative Union Limited (HIMACUL), - HIMACUL, a macadamia co-op union, where a union member and chair of the local co-operative, Rosemary Kaphadzala, gave a farm tour and demonstration of macadamia growing.

 ·       Meetings with the Mzuzu Coffee Co-op Union where she was able to hear from one of their members, Minnie Mangochi, who has personally experienced growth in her farming business through Union membership and increased trade.

 ·       Time spent in Nkhotakota to see some of our Funeralcare tree planting activity in action, part of a pledge made by the Society which means that for every Funeral we conduct, a tree is planted in Malawi so that our clients know the good they are doing when they choose Central Co-op. 

 ·       A trip to visit a clean water programme Our Malawi Partnership has supported.

Debbie also spoke at the first ever Malawian Co-operative Fayre which showcased some of the brilliant local products and enabled producer farmers to share  stories about how co-operative working was helping to ensure  food security, and environmental sustainability. The Fayre was a great opportunity to explore and experience new products, including honey and macadamia nut oil and discuss how they can be brought to UK stores.

Remember that you can play your part simply by shopping from the range of fantastic  Partnership Products which you’ll find in all Central Co-op stores.

Click here to view the full product range and find out more about the initiative.