Sugar is a globally traded commodity and an essential ingredient in many everyday products, from food and beverages to household staples. In Malawi, sugar production plays an important role in the national economy and in local employment, with large estates supplying both domestic and international markets.
This report explores the fairness of water use and impacts within Malawi’s sugar sector, examining how water resources are managed and how water-related risks and benefits are experienced by surrounding communities.
Using a fair water footprint approach, the analysis highlights the importance of responsible water stewardship in agricultural supply chains and identifies opportunities for companies, policymakers and partners to support more equitable and sustainable water management.