The Onga ADP is located in the Chiradzulu district in southern Malawi, about 30km from the commercial capital, Blantyre. The ADP reaches 76 villages with a total population of 37,790 of which about 15,000 are children between the ages of 4 and 11.

Agricultural and economic development

The Onga economy is based on subsistence farming. Household income is low and nutrition poor, with almost 85 per cent of the people living on less than NZ$2 per day. Community members also earn a living from waged labour and selling vegetables on a small scale. Crop production is generally low because of small plots, traditional farming methods, inadequate irrigation and soil erosion. World Vision will work with the community to increase agricultural production by teaching modern farming techniques and assisting people to access markets.

Health

The main health issues in Onga are a lack of access to clean potable water, poor sanitation, and a high prevalence of HIV and AIDS. Other health problems include malaria, pneumonia and malnutrition. The health sector in the area is facing challenges ranging from a lack of proper medications to a shortage of qualifi ed staff. World Vision will work with community-based organisations and village health committees to help improve access to health services.

Empowering the community

Partnerships are established with other relevant stakeholders in the area to build the community’s capacity to care and provide for the children. Empowering the community at grassroots level to manage its resources and support its own long-term sustainable development is vital to the programme.

Education

Access to education in Onga is mostly constrained by a shortage of well qualifi ed teachers, a high pupil-to-teacher ratio, inadequate infrastructure and a lack of learning and teaching materials. World Vision, in partnership with the community, will address these challenges to advance the right to education as covered under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Sustainable development

With the financial support of World Vision New Zealand, World Vision Malawi started researching the need for an ADP in Onga in 2008. World Vision’s partnership with the Onga ADP is envisaged to stretch over a period of 15 years. During this time, the community will work towards increased self-reliance in co-operation with other relevant stakeholders. Once this objective has been achieved, World Vision will withdraw from the ADP and the community will take responsibility for its own development.

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