Disasters, Conflicts and Migration 

For a more detailed database on disasters on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters Country Profile 

Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response

Government

The Government of Malawi is the ultimate coordinator of all actors involved in an emergency response and is responsible for disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery; any emergency response is led by the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), assisted by the relevant line ministries. District Commissioners are mandated to coordinate any emergency-related activities in their districts through the Civil Protection Committees with the assistance of NGOs in the districts. 

A National Epidemic Committee under the Ministry of Health has been established with membership from key stakeholders, including the donor community and various government departments, to coordinate all activities on all levels for epidemic prevention and control, through which service delivery, surveillance, monitoring, data collection, analysis and dissemination are coordinated. The responsibility for cholera surveillance falls under this Committee. Donor Coordination can facilitate an effective and timely response. 

For information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Malawi Government Contact List

Humanitarian Community

The UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) is responsible for coordinating the UN emergency response. Under the guidance of the UNRC, the UN Country Team (UNCT) is responsible for the effective and efficient implementation of inter-agency disaster management activities in Malawi through UNDAF Cluster II which focuses on Social Protection and Disaster Risk Reduction. UNDAF Cluster II team comprises the emergency focal points from each UN agency, Malawi RCS and the World Bank. Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) is a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). As a member of the IFRC, the MRCS embodies the work and principles of the Red Cross Movement. IFRC directs and channels its international assistance to victims of natural and technological disasters through National Societies, in this case the Malawi Red Cross Society. IFRC acts as the official representative of its member societies and works to strengthen their capacity to carry out effective disaster preparedness, health, and social programmes. This is accomplished through provision of financial, technical and human resource assistance. 

UN agencies, MRCS and a network of NGO implementing partners will respond to an emergency in collaboration with and through the Government of Malawi. In accordance with UN Humanitarian Reform and the cluster directions of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), Cluster Lead Agencies will ensure a coordinated action among partners in their respective sectors. This responsibility requires coordination with Government, agencies and NGOs to ensure that the needs of these sectors are addressed, that information is shared, and that reporting is carried out accordingly. 

For information on humanitarian agency contact details, please see the following links: 

4.2 Malawi Humanitarian Agency Contact List

The Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) is a statutory organization established in 1972 by an Act of Parliament (Cap 51:02) of Malawi. The MBS was established with a mandate to promote standardization of commodities and of their manufacture, production, processing or treatment; and further, to provide for matters incidental to, or connected with standardization. The mandate was given as a means of advancing the national economy; benefiting the health, safety and welfare of the public; assisting and protecting consumers; facilitating domestic and international trade; and furthering international cooperation in the field of standardization. 

The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) is a corporate body established under the Energy Regulatory Act No. 20 of 2004 as the Energy Sector Wide Regulator. The mandate is to regulate the energy sector in Malawi in a fair, transparent, efficient and cost-effective manner for the benefit of the consumers and operators. MERA operates in accordance with the following Energy Laws: The Electricity Act 2004; The Energy Regulation Act 2004; The Rural Electrification Act 2004; and The Liquid Fuels and Gas (Production and Supply) Act 2004. As the Energy Sector-regulator MERA has the following key functions: receive and process license applications for energy undertakings; grant, revoke or amend licenses under the Act and Energy Laws; approve tariffs and prices of energy sales and services; monitor and enforce compliance by licensees with licensing conditions granted under the Act and the Energy Laws; develop and enforce performance and safety standards for energy exploitation, production, transportation and distribution. 

The Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Act 1988 and the Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons (Fees and Forms) Regulations 1990 empower the Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Board established by the Ministry of Health to regulate, register, and control the quality of drugs in Malawi. The Board is also responsible for the registration, ethical control and training of pharmacy professionals. The Board has a Medicines Committee for the scheduling and registration of drugs. Malawi has a written and approved national drug policy, developed in 1991. It covers all aspects related to drug regulatory control, drug registration, drug procurement, and quality assurance. A plan called National Pharmaceutical Plan 1990-1995, dated 1991, is in the process of being implemented. There is an official essential drugs list, the Malawi Essential Drugs List, developed in 1991. The list contains 311 products and is being used for procurement of drugs for the public sector. Drug registration has not been introduced and there is no unit responsible for this within the Pharmacy Administration of the Ministry of Health. 

The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) is an agency of the Government of Malawi responsible for assessment, collection and accounting of tax revenues. MRA was established by an Act of Parliament in 1998 and was launched in February 2000. It was formed to improve on the functions previously carried out by the Divisions of Customs and Excise, and Income Tax in the Ministry of Finance. The Authority operates as a government tax administration agency under the Ministry of Finance. The revenue that the Authority collects goes to Government for implementation of various socio-economic development projects such as the construction of roads, bridges, schools, health facilities and provision of social services. The latter include national security and provision of salaries for civil servants such as the police, the army, judges, doctors, nurses and teachers 

The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) was established under the Communications Act (1998), Cap 68:01 of the Laws of Malawi and its Mandate is to regulate and develop the Information Communications Technology (ICT) Sector in Malawi. 

For information on Malawi Regulatory Department contact details, please see the following link: 

4.1 Malawi Government Contact List

Duties and Tax Exemption

For contact information regarding government customs authorities, please follow the link below: 

Malawi Revenue Authority - Customs Duties (mra.mw)

4.1 Malawi Government Contact List

Emergency Response:

[Note: This section contains information which is related and applicable to ‘crisis’ times. These instruments can be applied when an emergency is officially declared by the Government.  When this occurs, there is usually a streamlined process to import goods duty and tax free.]

In the following table, state which of the following agreements and conventions apply to the country and if there are any other existing ones

Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response): 

[Note: This section contains information on the usual duties & taxes exemption regime during non-emergency times, when there is no declared state of emergency and no streamlines process (e.g. regular importations/development/etc.).]

Prior importation approval is required for the United Nation Agencies to import goods duty free.  The application for duty waiver is addressed to the Commissioner General for consideration and it has to be accompanied by a Commercial Invoice and packing list of the goods. The approval is granted in writing.  Once the approval is granted the agency  proceeds to clear the goods through a customs clearing agent (broker). The agency representative is also required to complete and sign a duty free certificate at port of clearance. The goods may also be subjected to intrusive or non intrusive inspection. The goods are also supposed

NOTE: These requirements apply to the UN and NGOs alike

Exemption Certificate Application Procedure: 

Exemption Certificate Document Requirements

Customs Clearance

General Information 

Food commodities such as Maize, CSB, DSM, Millet, Rice & Vegetable Oil require import permits prior to importation.
Please note: These requirements apply to the UN and NGO’s alike

Customs Clearance Document Requirements

Transit Regime

When a shipment arrives at the customs Entry office, all documents are handed over to the Clearing Agent who then prepares a Transit Declaration, using the transit customs procedure code 8100 000. The Clearing Agent then submits the declaration to Customs for processing. Customs Officer(s)  may escorts the goods to the exit customs office at the stated exit point at a cost of MK 40,0 00 per officer / day. Other charges to be paid per shipment are MK 20,000 for the customs processing fee.