Analyzing the Shire Valley Transformation Project in Malawi through the lens of the SDGs

Phiri Kampanje, Brian (2025): Analyzing the Shire Valley Transformation Project in Malawi through the lens of the SDGs. Published in: INTL Sustainability Journal, ISSN: 3079-0263 , Vol. 3, No. 2 (1 August 2025): pp. 87-99.

Abstract

It is natural that gigantic projects attract intense scrutiny and constant evaluation. This is the case with the Shire Valley Transformation Programme (SVTP) which is currently USD520 million undertaking for both Phase I and II but Phase II costing will be determined in its project life running from 2018 through 2031. This study subjected SVTP to the basic SDGs Evaluation Model and it shows that there are so many gaps which must be addressed for the project to be SDGs compliant and have meaningful impact to Malawi and indeed its citizens. The sooner the observable deficiencies are addressed the better for Malawi.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Shire; Valley; Transformation; Malawi, SDGs
• Subjects: H - Public Economics > H6 - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt > H63 - Debt ; Debt Management ; Sovereign Debt; H - Public Economics > H6 - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt > H69 - Other; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q1 - Agriculture > Q15 - Land Ownership and Tenure ; Land Reform ; Land Use ; Irrigation ; Agriculture and Environment; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q1 - Agriculture > Q18 - Agricultural Policy ; Food Policy; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q1 - Agriculture > Q19 - Other

References

Government of Malawi (2021). Malawi 2063 First 10-Year Implementation Plan (MIP-1). National Planning Commission, Lilongwe, Malawi.

Government of Malawi (2017) Shire Valley Irrigation Project, Final Feasibility Report .

Pansungwi, Jonathan. (2025) “Shire Valley project extends dateline”, The Nation Online, 3rd June 2025 accessed at https://mwnation.com/shire-valley-project-extends-deadline/

SVTP (2025) Contributors to the Shire Valley Transformation Programme accessed at https://svtp.gov.mw/funders/

The Nation Online (2022) “Cyclone Ana affects $223m SVTP in Chikwawa”, The Nation Online, 29th January 2022 accessed at https://mwnation.com/cyclone-ana-affects-223m-svtp-in-c hikwawa/

The Shire Valley Transformation Programme (2025) Project Profile accessed at file:///media/fuse/drivefs-aa3ae7db0f04c7e128acf8a687df 8e11/root/Shire%20Valley%20SVTP-INFO-PACK-FNL.p df

World Bank (2025a) Shire Valley Transformation Program - Phase 1, accessed at https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/proje ct-detail/P158805

World Bank (2025b) Shire Valley Transformation Program - Phase 2 accessed at https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/proje ct-detail/P17657