ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BENEFICIARY REGISTRATION IN FOOD DISTRIBUTION DURING THE 2024/2025 EL NIÑO-INDUCED DROUGHT RESPONSE. A CASE STUDY OF T/A TSABANGO LILONGWE DISTRICT

This study assessed the effectiveness of beneficiary registration in food distribution during the 2024/2025 El Niño-induced drought response in Traditional Authority (T/A) Tsabango, Lilongwe District, Malawi. The study examined how registration processes influenced transparency, accountability, and fairness in humanitarian food distribution programs. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative and qualitative research designs. Data were collected through household questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and document reviews involving beneficiary households, local leaders, and humanitarian actors. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The findings revealed that the beneficiary registration process was moderately effective but faced significant challenges in transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency. Although community-based approaches enhanced local participation, the registration process was largely dominated by village leaders with limited technical oversight. Many respondents reported that beneficiary lists were not openly shared and that selection criteria were unclear, contributing to perceptions of favoritism and targeting errors. The study further found that accountability mechanisms, including complaint-handling systems, were weak, as many grievances were not adequately addressed. Operational challenges such as long distances to registration centers, inadequate staffing, congestion, and limited information dissemination also constrained equitable access to registration services. The study concludes that weaknesses in transparency, accountability, and operational systems undermined the fairness and credibility of beneficiary registration and food distribution during the drought response. The study recommends strengthening oversight mechanisms, improving communication and information sharing, decentralizing registration centers, increasing staffing levels, and enhancing grievance redress systems to promote more transparent, inclusive, and accountable humanitarian food distribution programs in Malawi.