The rise of ganyu in Malawi

Joachim De Weerdt, Claire Duquennois and Adriana Oliveres-Mallol

No 58, MaSSP policy notes from International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Abstract: A quiet but important transformation is taking place in Malawi’s rural labor markets. Increasingly, rural Malawians are working fewer hours on their own farms and spending more time in ganyu – an informal labor arrangement based on day- or piece‑work, typically requiring very low levels of skill and offering low and uncertain pay. While ganyu has long existed in Malawi, its scale and role in rural livelihoods have changed markedly. It is no longer merely a short‑term coping strategy but has become a central source of employment for a growing share of the rural population. This shift is especially pronounced among men, young people, and individuals with little land and limited formal education. At the same time, those who rely more heavily on ganyu are finding it increasingly difficult to secure adequate and stable access to food. The rapid expansion of ganyu has important implications for the kind of policies that will advance inclusive development in Malawi.

Keywords: informal markets; informal economy; labour market; policies; Malawi; Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Southern Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-05-12
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:fpr:masspn:182878

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