socail protection is key to community development 

In 2005/6 the Malawi Government introduced a large scale national Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) subsidizing agricultural inputs, mainly fertilizers and seeds for maize production. While we appreciate that the creation and development of the FISP is a wonderful idea which was meant to assist the ultra-poor households, the implementation arrangement leaves a lot to be desired in as far as gender equality is concerned. Since 2012, the AEEW PC of the NGO Gender Coordination Network, among other activities, has been conducting assessments regarding the vulnerabilities of women concerning access to farm inputs for agricultural activities. The aim of such assessments was to gather qualitative data with regard to women´s access to farm inputs through the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP). NGOGCN notes that in the agriculture sector, women provide 70 percent of the workforce and produce 80 percent of food for home consumption.