Deadline: 12-Jun-2026
The Ireland-Malawi Agri-Food Systems Programme (IMAGRI) is funding applied research and innovation projects to strengthen Malawi’s food systems. It focuses on food safety systems, infrastructure development, and digital innovation to improve regulation, enterprise competitiveness, and governance.
The IMAGRI Programme, supported by the Embassy of Ireland, aims to strengthen Malawi’s food systems by addressing regulatory gaps, infrastructure challenges, and low adoption of modern technologies. It runs from November 2025 to October 2029 and works with key national institutions including:
- National Planning Commission
- Ministry of Agriculture
- Ministry of Health
- Ministry of Industrialisation, Business, Trade & Tourism
The programme promotes a sustainable, inclusive, and well-coordinated national food system.
Programme Objectives
IMAGRI focuses on:
- Strengthening food safety regulatory frameworks
- Improving private sector adoption of food safety practices
- Enhancing multi-sectoral governance and coordination
- Supporting enterprise competitiveness in food systems
- Promoting digital transformation in agriculture and food safety
- Building resilient and sustainable food systems
Funding Details
The programme offers targeted funding across three thematic areas:
- Food Safety Systems: up to EUR 10,000
- Infrastructure: up to EUR 17,000
- Innovation and Technology: up to EUR 13,000
Core Work Packages
The programme is structured into three main components:
- Food Safety Systems
- Enterprise Development for Food Safety
- Food Systems Transformation Support
These focus on improving regulation, enterprise capacity, and systemic transformation of Malawi’s food sector.
Thematic Areas and Focus
Food Safety Systems
This theme addresses:
- Fragmented regulatory frameworks
- Low awareness of food safety standards
- Development of risk-based inspection systems
- Data systems for policy harmonisation
- Technology-enabled food safety monitoring
Infrastructure
This theme focuses on:
- Strengthening laboratory capacity
- Improving water quality monitoring systems
- Enhancing diagnostic testing facilities
- Upgrading storage and hygiene systems
- Supporting compliance infrastructure
Innovation and Technology
This theme promotes:
- Digital tools for food safety management
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications
- Data-driven decision-making systems
- Proof-of-concept technological solutions
- Applied research for real-world food system challenges
Eligible Applicants
Eligible organisations include:
- Universities and academic institutions
- Research organisations
- Registered institutions in Malawi
- Public and private sector partnerships
- Regional or international collaborators (in partnership with local entities)
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be institutionally registered in Malawi (lead applicants)
- Demonstrate expertise in food systems or related fields
- Show commitment to applied research and innovation
- Include multi-sector collaboration where possible
- Ensure at least 30% women participation in project teams
- Preferably include women-led initiatives
Programme Priorities
The programme prioritizes projects that:
- Deliver practical and scalable solutions
- Improve food safety compliance systems
- Strengthen institutional coordination
- Enhance enterprise competitiveness
- Introduce digital and AI-driven innovations
- Address infrastructure and regulatory gaps
- Support policy harmonisation and implementation
Expected Outcomes
Funded projects are expected to:
- Improve food safety governance systems
- Enhance regulatory harmonisation across sectors
- Strengthen enterprise compliance with safety standards
- Increase adoption of digital and technological solutions
- Improve infrastructure for testing and monitoring
- Support evidence-based policymaking
- Contribute to long-term food systems transformation
Why This Programme Matters
IMAGRI is important because it:
- Strengthens national food safety systems in Malawi
- Improves public health through safer food systems
- Enhances competitiveness of local food enterprises
- Promotes innovation in agriculture and food processing
- Builds stronger institutional coordination across sectors
- Supports sustainable and inclusive food system transformation
Conclusion
The Ireland-Malawi IMAGRI Programme supports applied research and innovation to modernize Malawi’s food systems through improved regulation, infrastructure, and technology adoption. By funding targeted, collaborative projects, it strengthens food safety, enhances enterprise capacity, and drives long-term transformation toward a more sustainable and resilient national food system.
For more information, visit Mwapata Institute.