IGNIT3 Impact Series: Stories from Malawi
Part 1 – Malawi: Transforming Lives through Sustainable WASH Solutions
In October, I had the privilege of visiting Malawi. Three hours into our trip from the district government offices in Mangochi to Nangaluma Healthcare Facility (HCF), my colleagues from the SickKids Centre for Global Child Health (SickKids) and Nutrition International (NI) turned to me and said, “Now we know what is meant by hard to reach.”
The realities of delivering water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in Malawi – logistical challenges, resource limitations, and communities in need of support – are not lost on the teams that work so hard to ensure this project succeeds. I saw firsthand how collaboration, learning and a shared commitment to sustainable interventions can transform lives.
My visit focused on the Increase Gains in Nutrition by Integration, Education, Evaluation & Empowerment (IGNIT3) project, a collaborative initiative led by SickKids, in partnership with WaterAid, Nutrition International and other key consortium partners like Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS). This project embodies what WaterAid stands for: ensuring clean water and sanitation for everyone, while aligning efforts with sustainable development goals and the unique needs of the local communities we work with.
One of the most rewarding aspects of field visits is meeting colleagues in our Country Programs, and Malawi was no exception. The team’s passion and dedication were inspiring from the moment we arrived. We dove into discussions about financial management, workplans, and activities that embed sustainability into our interventions, such as the lifecycle costing approach, a strategy designed to ensure that WASH services remain effective and resilient over time. While these topics may not be thrilling to most, they are foundational for creating lasting impact.
As part of the trip, our team undertook a field visit to Mangochi district, where the project will be implemented. This provided a firsthand view of the current state of healthcare facilities (HCFs) and the communities they serve. Divided into two groups, we visited two HCFs where WaterAid will focus its efforts, particularly on WASH-FIT training, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) training, and WASH construction.
At Nangaluma HCF, the challenges were stark. Water was scarce, sanitation facilities failed to meet basic requirements, and essential items like soap for hand hygiene were absent. Open burning was a visible hazard. Yet, amidst these challenges, there was hope and determination. In speaking with the healthcare committee at Nangaluma, I was struck by their eagerness to improve conditions despite limited resources. The committee had already developed a WASH action plan but faced financial constraints. An action plan proudly shown to us by one of the nurses at the HCF, an action plan that will be supported as part of WaterAid Malawi’s efforts. Collaboration with the district government emerged as a key priority, a step we facilitated by involving district officials in our site visits.
Community members also shared their perspectives, expressing their willingness to support the initiatives by pledging to maintain the structures provided, ensuring their safekeeping and even helping with small repairs. One, a mother holding her two-month-old baby, shared her frustration over the lack of water at the HCF. She, like many others in the community, understood just how critical it is. The urgency in her voice reinforced what healthcare workers and community members had already made clear: access isn’t a luxury, but a necessity for safe, effective care.
By addressing gaps in WASH services, empowering healthcare workers, and engaging communities, the IGNIT3 project is not just improving infrastructure — it’s building healthier, more resilient communities. And doing so in collaboration with Malawi’s Ministry of Health, whereby the deputy who we met with, pledged to conduct her own monitoring visits to Mangochi, the district where IGNIT3 is being implemented. Her commitment underscores the importance of government involvement in scaling and sustaining the impact of WASH initiatives and finding champions within institutions who can carry the work forward.
Reflecting on the field visit, I am reminded that WASH plays a vital role in healthcare delivery and the potential it holds to improve lives. WaterAid’s work in Malawi is not just about pipes and toilets; it is about dignity, equity and opportunity. With local leadership, government collaboration, and community resilience, we can create systems that empower people and communities to thrive long after the project ends.
Nicole Dagher, Head of Program Management, WaterAid Canada
💧 Watch for Part Two of the IGNIT3 Series next month, where we take you to Pakistan for more stories from the field.
Launched in 2023, Increase Gains in Nutrition by Integration, Education, Evaluation & Empowerment (IGNIT3) is a sustainable capacity-building project in Ghana, Malawi and Pakistan led by The Centre for Global Child Health at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), in collaboration with Nutrition International and WaterAid Canada. This project, funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada, aims to improve nutrition for women, adolescent girls, and children in all three countries over five years (2023 to 2028). Local implementing partners include Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives (GCNM), Aga Khan University (AKU), Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) and WaterAid country offices in Ghana, Malawi and Pakistan and Nutrition International countries offices in Malawi and Pakistan.
