During an ultra-poor graduation learning forum, the Chief Director in the Ministry of Finance, Peter Simbani, revealed that government has targeted to graduate 15,000 ultra-poor households in nine districts in the next three years.

Simbani said government will implement the above through various interventions such as social cash transfer, mindset change, promotion of small businesses and asset transfer.

From 50.4% in 2010, poverty registered an increase to 51.5% in 2017, says a 2019 African Economic Outlook Report, last March. The study, carried out by the African Development Bank (AfDB) states that poverty in rural areas registers 56.6%, citing food security as the major cause for the record. Comparing the study to a National Statistical Office (NSO) Malawi Poverty Estimation Report from 2016/17, the two studies agree that moderate poverty levels in the country did not change. On the other hand, Malawi’s ultra-poverty rate stood at 20.1% in 2016,  down from 24.5% in 2011.