Abstract

Malawi, a vulnerable country in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) is at the helm of experiencing food insecurity amidst COVID-19 as the vast majority survives on the hand-to-mouth economy. However, knowledge about how COVID-19 policy measures lead to food insecurity among the urban residents in Malawi is scanty. Understanding this link is crucial for designing the interventions that can help reduce the risk of being food insecure while containing further spread of the virus. Using Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory as a conceptual framework, we explore the impact of COVID-19 policy measures on food security experienced by Blantyre residents in Malawi. We interviewed fifteen participants composed of private secondary school teachers and informal workers to understand their experiences of food insecurity linked to COVID-19 policy measures in place by the Malawi government. Our results show that participants face difficulties to access adequate food and have also changed their eating habits by skipping meals in some days due to loss of jobs, underpayment as well as business disruption. Based on the findings, we argue that the COVID-19 policies have aggravated severe challenges among urban residents to access adequate food rendering them food insecure. To ensure sustained livelihood, we suggest the Malawi government should design immediate interventions such as relief fund packages targeting the urban poor to rescue them from facing acute food shortages while containing the pandemic.