$700 Cash Grants Transform Lives in Malawi

GiveDirectly, backed by Canva, is distributing approximately $700 cash grants to eligible adults in two Malawi districts—an amount equal to the country's annual per capita income—with no spending restrictions. The initiative serves as a pilot program to test whether large-scale direct cash transfers can be a more efficient alternative to traditional development aid models. Recipients are using the funds to invest in businesses, livestock, and home improvements.