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Caritas Malawi was founded in 1984. In 1999, it was renamed CADECOM (Catholic Development Commission in Malawi) to change its image from humanitarian to development organization.

In its mission, CADECOM seeks to educate and empower the underprivileged to enable a comprehensive, sustainable, gender-sensitive and environmentally friendly development. It also promotes justice, human dignity and self-reliance by involving people in taking responsibility for their future.

To achieve its mission, CADECOM implements programs in the following areas

• Agriculture, nutrition and food security.
• Water, sanitation and hygiene
• Capacity building/training for transformation
• Capacity building/training for transformation
• Natural disaster prevention, relief and rehabilitation
• Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS and gender in all projects
• Natural resource management
• Access to markets and income generating activities
• Youth Development and Economic Empowerment
• Climate adaptation and mitigation
• Lobbying and advocacy

Its activities follow several national and international policy documents and agreements, such as: the Millennium Development Goals, the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy II (MGDS II), the Malawi National Food Security Policy, the National Adaptation Programmes of Action, and national and international documents on gender and human rights.

There are eight Catholic dioceses in the country. Each diocese employs a minimum of 10 people who work on projects funded by various founders. And for each community, at least 20 volunteers work on a project.

CADECOM’s relief, emergency and reconstruction program has been supported by several Caritas members, such as Caritas Australia, Cordaid, SCIAF, Trócaire, CRS, Caritas Sweden, Caritas Japan, Caritas Taiwan, Caritas Italy, Caritas Korea, Caritas Belgium, CAFOD and OXFAM.

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. It faces immense challenges such as extreme poverty, disease, and a lack of vital resources. Several other social and environmental problems such as famine, orphans, limited access to education (especially for girls), air pollution, prolonged droughts, floods, and HIV/AIDS, are also barriers to improved livelihoods.