Published in June 2026 

Honourable Roza Fatch Mbilizi, Malawi’s Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, has commended Sand Dams Worldwide for its contribution to improving water security and climate resilience among rural communities in Malawi.

Mbilizi made the remarks on June 9th 2026 when Sand Dams Worldwide and our local implementing partner, Churches Action in Relief and Development (CARD), paid a visit to her at Capital Hill in Lilongwe to discuss our work and future collaboration in sustainable water management and agricultural development.

Mbilizi thanked Sand Dams Worldwide for introducing the initiative to Malawi and called for an integrated approach by encouraging communities to utilise the water not only for domestic purposes but also for irrigation farming to boost food production and household incomes.

"I recommend that the dams should not be used for domestic purposes only, but also for irrigation farming." 

Honourable Roza Fatch Mbilizi (pictured right). 

CARD’s Executive Director, Melton Luhanga, said the partnership between CARD and Sand Dams Worldwide is transforming lives in the districts of Nsanje, Chikwawa and Neno by providing vulnerable communities with sustainable access to water for domestic use, livestock and agricultural production. He added that the initiative also promotes climate-smart agriculture, environmental conservation and tree planting, helping communities increase productivity, restore degraded landscapes and strengthen food security while building resilience to climate-related challenges.

About sand dams

Sand dams are a sustainable, nature-based and cost-effective rainwater harvesting technology that can last upwards of 60 years and capture up to 40 million litres of water, replenishing every rainy season. That water is stored safe from disease and evaporation within the sand. It’s easily extractable via pipework connected to hand-pumps and taps, with one sand dam providing enough year-round water for over 1,000 people. Watch how sand dams work here:

Sand Dams Worldwide has enabled the construction of over 1,400 sand dams in 10 countries, providing over 1.2 million people with access to clean water. We have also supported the planting of more than 1.5 million trees for food, shade and fodder.

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Please donate what you can and help to empower vulnerable women and girls in drylands to transform their own lives with sand dams and clean water