The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned that Malawi could face a contraceptive funding gap of more than US$10 million in 2027, putting access to family planning services at risk.
UNFPA Representative in Malawi Richard Delate made the warning in a statement marking World Contraception Day 2026.
According to UNFPA, the Government has released K730 million in 2026 to purchase contraceptives and plans to increase the allocation to K1 billion in 2027.
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The organisation says the funding is important in ensuring that contraceptives reach health facilities and communities, particularly in rural areas.
“A choice is meaningful only when people have the means to act on it,” Delate said.
He said continued investment in family planning services would help women and couples decide when to have children and plan for their future.
UNFPA said nearly one in three girls aged 15 to 19 in Malawi has ever been pregnant. The rate is higher in rural areas, at 34 percent, compared with 19 percent in urban areas.
The organisation says women and girls need accurate information, a range of contraceptive methods and services that are accessible and reliable, including during emergencies.
UNFPA highlighted the story of Linda Kanyoza, who became pregnant at 16 after her family was displaced by Cyclone Freddy. The man who promised to marry her left after learning she was pregnant, leaving her to raise her child alone.
Kanyoza later began accessing contraceptives through a community-based distribution agent trained with UNFPA support.
“I know I can plan when I want to have another child, and I hope this will help me go back to school and finish my education,” she said.
UNFPA said declining donor support has created uncertainty around contraceptive supplies, with the projected 2027 funding gap threatening reliable access for women and girls.
The organisation said it will continue working with government and other partners to secure contraceptive supplies and bring services closer to communities.
It has also called for sustained investment to ensure women and girls can make informed choices about their futures and family wellbeing.
