Through One Acre Fund’s training and follow-up support, farmers gain practical skills in agroforestry and climate-smart agriculture, empowering communities with knowledge that will continue to support them for generations.
Reforestation
Supporting small-holder farmers in Malawi
Overview
Site
Benefits
Verification
Agroforestry in Malawi
Trees play a critical role in supporting environmental health. They enrich soil, prevent erosion, improve water retention, and capture carbon. Since 2006, One Acre Fund has helped farmers plant more than 440 million trees across Africa and is working toward a goal of one billion trees by 2030. In Malawi, where nearly 70% of the population lives below the international poverty line, most families rely on small-scale agriculture yet face increasing climate shocks that threaten both incomes and food security.
This project will support the planting of 2 million trees in Malawi. Farmers will receive high-quality seedlings and hands-on training to integrate a mix of tree species into their croplands, restoring soil fertility, improving yields, and building long-term resilience. This includes an expanding portfolio of fruit trees, such as mango and avocado, designed to help ensure more consistent, year-round food availability while supporting climate mitigation and strengthening the long-term health of Malawi’s agricultural landscapes.
Locations
Zomba, Malawi
Benefits
Planting 2 million trees will strengthen climate resilience across Malawi. As the trees grow, they will sequester carbon, improve the fertility of farmers’ soil, and reduce pressure on natural forests. Integrating a diverse mix of species into agricultural fields also helps buffer crops from drought, heat stress, and erratic rainfall, making smallholder farms more resilient over time. At the same time, fruit-bearing trees contribute to improved household nutrition by expanding access to year-round food sources. In one of the highest-need contexts where One Acre Fund operates, this approach serves as both an environmental safeguard and a foundation for more resilient, food-secure livelihoods.
Sustainable development goals
These Sustainable Development Goals show the wider outcomes this project supports beyond its headline impact.
For smallholder families, trees provide both immediate and long-term benefits. Improved soil health and microclimates result in higher and more reliable crop yields, thereby strengthening household food security and income.
In a region where climate volatility increasingly threatens livelihoods, these trees serve as a long-term natural defence system.
Verification
These partners help deliver the project and verify its impact.
Supplier
One Acre Fund
One Acre Fund is an agricultural service provider that supports Africa's smallholder farmers to build resilient communities.