The United States (US) Ambassador to Malawi, Virginia Palmer has called on local business players to take advantage of the various grants offered by the US Government to foster their business and economic growth.
Palmer made the remarks when she visited Kwithu Community Based Organisation (CBO) and Kwithu Kitchen in Mzuzu yesterday.
She said initiatives that are people-centred and income generating have chances of being funded through the United States African Development Foundation, (USADF), an independent agency that supports Africa-driven solutions intended at addressing grassroots economic and social problems.
“We have grants for small projects. For bigger projects that have a proven track record and are income generating already, we have additional funding and technical assistance,” Palmer said.
Kwithu Kitchen, an all women-owned food-processing cooperative, is an offshoot of Kwithu CBO which currently cares for over 350 needy children.
In 2016, the cooperative received approximately K58 million from USADF to further its business as well as other activities.
Kwithu Kitchen Executive Director, Anna Msowoya Keys said Malawi needs to set up a network of women groups indulging in various initiatives that are of benefit to the needy for them to fully utilise the grants.
She said the cooperative exports some of its products but she bemoaned Malawians’ appetite for imported products.
“We also need to be supported locally before we can make it internationally. Since the government is promoting local products through the Buy Malawi initiative, we need even the head of state to try our products,” she said.
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