Rapid Situation and Needs Assessment of Informal Cross-border Traders at Mchinji Border in Malawi during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Informal cross-border trade is significant in Southern Africa, accounting for 30 to 40 per cent of the total trade in the Southern African Development Community, with an estimated value of USD 17.6 billion. Women make up approximately 70 per cent of informal cross-border traders (ICBTs), face gender-specific risks and are more susceptible to harassment, abuse and exploitation. The majority of female ICBTs are relatively poor with low levels of education, yet they support some of the most fragile and impoverished communities. Accordingly, any threat to informal cross-border trade poses a threat to the most vulnerable and least resilient. The outbreak of COVID-19 has led to significant challenges on the continuation of informal cross-border trade as a result of the measures put in place to contain the spread of the virus, including border closures and travel restrictions. These changes have had a catastrophic impact on the livelihoods of ICBTs, as they are unable to conduct their routine trade. COVID-19 restrictions have hit informal trade harder than other sectors, with women hit particularly hard by economic losses. A rapid needs and baseline assessment was undertaken in four countries – namely Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe – in order to understand the impact of COVID-19 on informal cross-border trade. This report provides the findings and recommendations from the assessment done in Malawi. The assessment was conducted within the framework of a project supported by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.