MSU’s ‘Frugal’ Students Make Real Impact in Malawi Markets, Government

In the summer of 2015, faculty from Michigan State University’s Global Center for Food Systems Innovation led a group of eight MSU students through its first-ever “Frugal Innovation Practicum.” The program—conducted in partnership with the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources—was a rigorous, hands-on educational experience that culminated with a two-week trip to Malawi, Africa, where the students studied urban markets, spoke with urban food retailers about obstacles and opportunities in food-based livelihoods, and then presented their findings to local government officials. Now, six months later, their involvement is beginning to pay serious dividends.

In February, as a direct result of the practicum, the Lilongwe City Council adopted the Local Revenue Enhancement Strategic Plan (LRESP), which will earmark 25 percent of the funds collected from market revenue for infrastructure development in those markets.

“As a Council, we are very grateful to the students, MSU and LUANAR,” said Genscher M'bwabwa, Director of Commerce, Industry and Trade. “The policy briefs produced by the students were very brilliant and exposed the Council's shortcomings (especially the Department of Commerce) in providing a conducive environment for business. The fund will be used primarily for infrastructural development in the markets, such as lock-up shops, sheds, toilets/washrooms and many more infrastructural needs of the traders. Setting the fund will also address the other challenges observed by the students, such as transparency and accountability, sanitation, and communication. It will be demand-driven; thus, traders themselves [can determine] what they want to be done in their market with the 25 percent allocated."

Stephanie White, a GCFSI researcher and lead faculty member of the practicum, said, “This was a pilot, and our greatest hope was that we could provide students with a meaningful learning experience that demonstrated the value of communication with local populations in the development of solutions. That their learning actually had impacts that can improve conditions in urban markets is wonderful and beyond my expectations, and also credit to everyone involved, including the city council.”

“I am really excited to hear that something concrete came out of our work last summer,” said Christine Sauer, a master's student in agricultural, food, and resource economics at MSU and a participant of the practicum. “The city council actually listened to our presentations and took action on some of the issues we raised; it means that the work we did was meaningful. The FIP was honestly one of the greatest things I've ever done. One of my favorite sayings is ‘Life begins at the end of your comfort zone,’ and I think in many ways this program pushed us well beyond our comfort zones—but we got so much in return. To anybody considering doing the FIP this year, I would tell them to not even think twice about it—just do it! You will learn so much—about food systems, of course, but also about yourself and your capabilities.”

The Lilongwe City Council intends to implement the LRSEP policy change in the next fiscal year, which begins in July 2016.

For more coverage on the 2015 Frugal Innovations Practicum, visit http://bit.ly/1NG0erR and http://bit.ly/1KVQD9t.