Malawi, most famously known as “the warm heart of Africa”, is a sub-Saharan land locked country located in south-eastern Africa. It is bordered by Tanzania to the northeast, Mozambique on the east, south and west, and Zambia to the northwest. The country obtained its independence from the British in 1964. Despite a peaceful history and a democratic political structure, Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. Its estimated population of 18 million is one of the fastest growing populations worldwide. 45.1% of the total population is under 15 years old while life expectancy at birth stands at 56.7 years for men and 59.9 for women (UN, 2016).
More than half of Malawians live on less than $1 per day. The vast majority rely on subsistence farming. Industry is limited and major exports include: tea, coffee, sugar, and tobacco. Despite economic limitations, Malawi currently hosts close to 40,000 refugees. Most refugees come from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, and Somalia.