Signage.

There is a significant difference between the signage here than at home in Canada.
In Canada, there are building projects springing up all over. In Toronto and Montréal there was also a new condo building, new shopping centre, or at least a new gas station being built in town. Accompanying these projects were always large signs announcing which corporation was behind the build, whichever large company was supporting this build and claiming all the wonderful things it was going to do for the community.

In Lilongwe there are also many building projects, accompanied by the requisite signs. At first, I took little notice of these signs as they seemed to be fairly similar to the ones I see at home. Upon closer examination it was obvious that these were a different variety of sign. Instead of a large corporation, these signs all cite different donors who are supporting the project. On my bike to work alone, I see a roads improvement project funded by the EU, a new lodge sponsored by something from Japan (there is a lot of Japanese support in Malawi), and something from DFID.

These signs always serve as a reminder for me about one of the main differences in the Canadian and Malawian economies. In Canada, our economy is supported by and thrives on the presence of corporations and other types of companies. They provide services and products, as well as support the job market. In a developing country like Malawi, foreign donors are the main source of services, products, and most importantly, jobs. International financial support plays a critical role in the basic functioning of the Malawi economy.
Important to remember.