Press Release: President Clinton Visits Clinton Hunter Development Initiative Sites in Malawi

As Part of a Six Day Trip to Africa, President Clinton Visits a Rural Hospital Established by the Clinton Hunter Development Initiative and Partners in Health and Meets with Rural Farmers Participating in the Clinton Hunter Development Initiative's Agriculture Programs.

President Clinton was in Neno, Malawi today to visit the work of the Clinton Hunter Development Initiative (CHDI). President Clinton began the day by meeting with a group of farmers who are expanding their production in partnership with CHDI. He then visited a hospital that is being built by CHDI, Partners In Health, the Government of Malawi, and others to serve the rural population in and near Neno.

CHDI was launched in 2006 as a ten-year, joint program of the Clinton Foundation and the Hunter Foundation. Through CHDI, President Clinton and Sir Tom Hunter are implementing an innovative, integrated program to catalyze economic growth in Africa, at present in Malawi and Rwanda. CHDI places great importance on programs that are scalable and sustainable, and programs that can bring lasting benefits to entire countries at costs that can be borne by local governments and communities, instead of foreign donors.

To assist the formation of profitable commercial enterprises, CHDI is working to address key barriers, including the limited access of Rwanda and Malawi to external markets. In addition, to channel a greater share of agricultural revenues into the hands of farmers and their families, CHDI is working to shrink the role of intermediaries and to directly connect producers with customers.

In Malawi, which officially produces 2.5% of wheat consumed domestically, CHDI is working to sustainably expand wheat production by strengthening rural farming associations. CHDI is expanding these associations' access to bank loans–enabling farmers to purchase seeds, fertilizer, and other inputs that increase productivity–and facilitating pre-sales of harvests to reputable buyers. Where demand for farm produce exceeds supply, CHDI will work in partnership with government to encourage commercial farming operations. In addition, when markets for farm products can be expanded by increasing domestic processing and packaging capacity, and when government policy supports such expansion, CHDI may make direct investments in plants to provide capacity.

Working with CHDI in Neno, 1,200 farmers registered legally under the banner of the new Neno Hills Farmers' Association (NHFA), and received a $65,000 loan from the Malawi Rural Finance Corporation to purchase improved wheat seed and fertilizer. The NHFA now plans to obtain a potato crop loan to improve potato production in Neno.

To strengthen health care in Neno, the Clinton Foundation is collaborating with Partners In Health to build the Neno District Hospital and to construct 23 houses for hospital staff. CHDI is building the sanitation system and developing the piped water supply for the hospital and housing development. CHDI and Partners In Health also are working with local officials to provide clean water to dozens of communities and health centers.

Elsewhere in Malawi, CHDI is overseeing the design and construction of a new maternity facility at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, to replace the former Bottom Hospital. This project is being funded by the Hunter Foundation and others in the community.

Following President Clinton's visit to Neno, Malawi, President Clinton will visit Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI) projects in Zambia and announce a pilot program to fight malaria in Tanzania.

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