United Nations in Malawi

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Malawi:

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26 February 2021

African LDCs can achieve SDGs

The Africa Regional Review Meeting which Malawi hosted this week (22 to 26 February) has generated concrete ideas on how to accelerate sustainable development in least developed countries (LDCs). Speaking during the closing session of the meeting, which was held in preparation for the Fifth UN Conference on Least Developed Countries in Qatar next year, Malawi Vice President, Saulos Chilima, called on LDCs to improve on action to achieve agreed goals on sustainable development. “LDCs have to embrace structural transformation which entails the transitioning from agriculture to manufacturing; increasing innovations to utilise our abundant resources; and focusing on value creation,” said Chilima. He also said the international community should accelerate financial inclusion and access to resources to build resilience against shocks in LDCs. On the impact of COVID-19 in LDCs, Chilima said: “We are hopeful that we will be finding innovative ways to build back better, cleaner and stronger.” UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, said LDCs have the power to solve their challenges. “Building back better will be a challenge, but there is hope when people in countries work together,” said ‘Utoikamanu. “The pandemic also presents an opportunity to do things differently and accelerate true transformation, for example, transforming the digital divide into a digital bridge.” Speaking earlier during the closing session, Malawi Minister of Youth and Sports, Ulemu Msungama, briefed delegates on the Side Event on Youth and SDG Acceleration, which Malawi Government and the UN in Malawi co-hosted at the meeting on Tuesday (23 February). Msungama said the side event demonstrated that LDCs will not achieve sustainable development if the majority of their populations, including the youth, are not included in development processes. “Governments should meaningfully engage young people and provide a conducive environment for youth to participate at all levels of decision-making,” he said. “Governments should put in place deliberate systems and platforms that can strengthen and retain engagement, social contact, dialogue and trust with young people.” During the side event, UN Resident Coordinator, Maria Jose Torres, said youth action and voice are critical to acceleration of the SDG agenda in LDCs. “The only way to achieve the change that we need is through ensuring that youth are at the forefront of development initiatives in LDCs,” said Torres. “The UN is determined to tap into the creativity and potential of young people to advance sustainable development.” Over 900 delegates registered for the Africa Regional Review Meeting which had eight dialogue sessions on topics such as building peaceful, just and inclusive societies; mobilizing resources for sustainable development in African LDCs; and social and human development in African LDCs. The report of the Africa Regional Review Meeting will be submitted to the 5th UN Conference on Least Developed Countries in Doha, Qatar, in January 2022 to feed into the development of a new Programme of Action to accelerate sustainable development in LDCs.

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26 February 2021

The world is in crisis: Transforming LDCs is imperative

COVID-19. Climate change. Economic collapse. These crises are overlapping, existential and concurrent. And they herald great change, some of which is already upon us. COVID-19 has been the latest catastrophe for Africa’s economies, collapsing commodity prices, disrupting manufacturing and virtually killing off international tourism. The result has been a sharp reduction in GDP growth. Together with widening deficits, unsustainable debt, and a drop in Foreign Direct Investment and remittances, the effects of COVID-19 will jeopardize the progress of the Least Developed Countries in Africa towards sustainable development for years to come. The virus knows no borders, and so the vaccine itself must not be subject to nationalism or protectionism. But likewise, climate response plans must be cooperative, ambitious and fair. Economic recovery packages must focus on debt eradication and have the most vulnerable at their heart. This confluence of crises demands a new solidarity. 46 countries are designated as being the ‘least developed countries’ or LDCs - and 33 of these are in Africa. These countries, from Angola to Zambia, face multiple challenges, including weak economies and low exports – issues that have only got worse since the pandemic struck. All of these problems are compounded by other challenges like conflict, inequality and climate change. A high rate of urbanisation among African LDCs makes cities and urban centres increasingly vulnerable to the impact of disasters. Without strong and purposeful governance that aspires towards structural transformation and sustainable development, economic and social outcomes in these LDCs will remain weak. A major meeting will be held virtually in Malawi this month to help build an ambitious new programme for action for LDCs to build momentum and partnerships as the final decade of action for the 2030 agenda gathers pace. The meeting will assess how African LDCs and Haiti are achieving sustainable development, and agree recommendations to help them accelerate progress over the next decade. The meeting will also seek to strengthen support by the international community for the LDCs. The outcome of the African Regional Review will lay out plans for a renewed partnership for sustainable development between the LDCs and their development partners. That new partnership will be agreed at the Fifth United Nations Conference on the LDCs – known as LDC5 – a major landmark in the efforts of LDCs and their partners to overcome core challenges, including the COVID crisis. Hosted by Qatar and taking place in early 2022, decisions made by world leaders at LDC5 will have the potential to transform the lives of no less than a billion of the world’s most vulnerable people. Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the African Regional Review meeting will be held online and bring together ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development from across the continent. They will be joined by representatives from development partner nations, international and regional organisations, the private sector, academia and civil society. The meeting is based on a bottom-up approach to preparing for LDC5 that ensures the needs of LDCs are clarified and heard. African LDCs have already completed national reviews on development progress and these will be the main inputs for the regional meeting. LDC5 will represent a reaffirmation of the global commitment to the special needs of LDCs at this critical time. With the COVID crisis still in full flame, climate change untamed and a new economic and debt crisis rolling around the world, the stakes for the conference could not be higher. And so, with a year to go, the preparatory process is already well underway. It is not hyperbolic to suggest we are facing a difficult set of complex problems like humanity never has before. And, as is too often the case, it is the weakest economies and the most vulnerable countries that are facing the effects most. It is precisely because of the scale of our problems that we must be honest with ourselves, and each other. We have the capacity to handle everything ahead of us – we just need the will. We have great multilateral systems of cooperation – we just need to invest in them. And we have incredible energy and activism, especially from our youth – we just need to listen to what they say. The pandemic has erected physical borders between us, and these will be temporarily. We must not let it erect new ideological or political barriers, which will be far longer lasting. Great change seems inevitable and just over the horizon. How we meet that change will not only say a lot about the systems we have built but will set the next course for humanity. Authored by the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), which supports groups of vulnerable countries in the United Nations System.

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01 July 2021

A Global Model to Tackle Violence Against Women

As the world grapples unevenly with the effects of COVID-19, a parallel and equally horrific pandemic has threatened half the world’s population. In the early months of the pandemic, the United Nations projected that quarantines and lockdowns could lead to a shocking 15 million additional cases of gender-based violence every three months. Sadly, those predictions appear to be coming true. This week, world leaders and others will gather at the Generation Equality Forum in Paris and online in a massive push for gender equality. At that meeting, I will call on states, companies and individuals to join in a global initiative, with proven results, to end the fear and insecurity that threaten the health, rights, dignity and lives of so many women and girls. From domestic violence to sexual exploitation, trafficking, child marriage, female genital mutilation and online harassment, violent misogyny has thrived in the shadow of the pandemic. Full data will take time to collect and assess, but the trends are clear. In twelve countries tracked by the United Nations, the number of cases of violence against women and girls reported to various institutions increased 83 per cent from 2019 to 2020, and cases reported to the police grew by 64 per cent. In the first months of the pandemic, calls to helplines increased by an average of 60 per cent across the European Union. Calls to Peru’s sexual violence hotline almost doubled in 2020 compared to 2019. In Thailand, the number of clients visiting domestic violence crisis units in hospitals in April 2020 was more than double the number from the same time period of the previous year. Such statistics and stories span the world, adding to an existing epidemic of violence against women and girls. Before the pandemic, the World Health Organization estimated that one in three women would experience male violence in their lifetime. Just over a year ago, I raised the alarm. Echoing my call for a global ceasefire, I appealed for peace in the home -- an end to all violence everywhere, from war zones to people’s homes -- to allow us to face the pandemic, humankind’s common enemy, with solidarity and unity. More than 140 countries expressed support. Some 800 measures have been adopted in 149 countries, the majority focused on shelter, legal assistance and other services and support. But, in many cases, these actions have been limited and short lived. Worse, other countries are retreating, rolling back legal protections and standing by as violence is used to target women, including human rights defenders protesting these reversals. The pervasiveness of violence against women and girls has led to acquiescence that it is somehow inevitable or impossible to end. This is as outrageous and self-defeating as it is plain wrong. Despite the challenges of the past year, the United Nations, with significant funding from and partnership with the European Union, has demonstrated that change is possible. Over the course of 2020, the Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls has delivered notable results in 25 countries. Eighty-four laws and policies to protect women and girls were adopted or strengthened. Prosecution of perpetrators increased 22 per cent. Some 650,000 women and girls received services despite lockdowns and mobility restrictions. Close to 900,000 men and boys -- including traditional leaders, heads of religious institutions, male taxi drivers and young gamers -- were engaged to be allies in finding solutions. And across these countries, national budget allocations for preventing and responding to violence against women and girls increased by 32 per cent, a clear indication of future sustainability. By coming together, in Paris, around a proven model, we can begin to ensure that the next generation of girls will not be expected to live with fear simply because we didn’t act. In time, there will be many lessons learned about what the world got right and wrong in handling this pandemic. One of the first must be to ensure that this disgraceful hidden pandemic facing half our population ends now.

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21 May 2021

Launch of the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) Malawi Chapter

INTRODUCTION The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) launched its Malawian Chapter in Lilongwe on 2 March 2020 under the theme: Intergenerational leadership: Malawian Women Working Together for the Malawi we want. In attendance were over 350 women, men and youth. These women were drawn from various sectors and groups such as Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Youth networks Private Sector entities, , women in business including entrepreneurs, Parliament, local councils, political parties, academic institutions and students, women living in rural areas, Government Ministries, departments and agencies, UN Agencies and Development partners, among others. Prior to the launch, UN Women in collaboration with Ministry of Gender, Children Disability and Social Welfare, engaged various stakeholders and put in place a national taskforce that facilitated preparations for the launch. Critical as well was the involvement of key development partners such as the German Embassy/Federal Republic of German (Malawi Foreign office), The Royal Norwegian Embassy, and the Embassy of Ireland Malawi. In consolidating the aim of AWLN, the African Union was also involved in linking the AWLN mission to the African Union Agenda 2063. KEY MESSAGES Key Speakers at the launch included the Ambassador Steinar Egil Hagen, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Malawi; Mr Juergen Thomas representing Ambassador Jurgen T Borsch, German Embassy in Malawi; UN Resident Coordinator Maria Jose Torres whose speech preceded the Video Statement by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka UN Women Executive Director; H.E. Hilda Suka-Mafudze High Commissioner of Zimbabwe to Malawi who read statement by H.E. Madame Bineta Diop – AU Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security; Erica Maganga, Principal Secretary for MOGCDSW; Hon Mary Thom Navicha, Minister, Ministry of Gender, Children disability and Social Welfare. The Minister officially launched the AWLN Malawi Chapter. The common thread message of the speeches was the recognition of ALWN as a critical platform to spur inclusive development by harnessing leadership roles of African women. AWLN was recognized as an opportunity for building a great legacy in as far advancing Gender Equality and Women Empowerment is concerned. INTERGENERATIONAL DIALOGUE During the launch, a Panel discussion was held. This involved women representing 3 key generations (i.e. from before the Beijing Declaration and Platform and afterwards in 1995; from 1996 to 2005, from 2006 to date) in symbolising the nexus between generational needs and the need for intergenerational leadership in advancing inclusive development and gender equality and women empowerment. Key conclusions from the dialogue were: Women representing different generations should work together and advance gender equality Young women should be supported such as through mentorship; Young women led organisations should be supported with funding to empower them implement interventions for transformative change interventions Women leaders need to undertake sustainable efforts beyond their generations so that other women in future should build on gains made. PRIORITIES FOR MALAWI CHAPTER AND NEXT STEPS Priorities areas for the Malawi Chapter include: 1. Empowering women living in rural areas; 2. Financial inclusion; 3. Women’s participation in politics and decision-making positions; 4. Young women and intergenerational leadership; 5. Gender Based Violence and 6. Peace and security. Key next steps include the establishment of the National Steering committee; development of a consolidated workplan for the AWLN Malawi Chapter to provide direction of post launch activities and cascading the National Chapter to the district and community levels to ensure all women at all levels participate in the AWLN. ACHIEVEMENTS So far, AWLN, women leaders and women-led NGOs have formed the Feminist Macroeconomic Alliance aimed at ensuring gender-sensitive macroeconomic policies in Malawi. The alliance is championing the engendering of macroeconomic policies such as the current discourse on gender and tax justice, and debt management. AWLN has also created a vibrant Young Feminist Movement that is carrying out nationwide advocacy on women’s human rights especially on ending all forms of violence against women and girls. The young feminist network is also bridging the inter-generational gap, with their voice and agency contributing to the fight against gender-based violence and the promotion of women’s rights.

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10 March 2021

Spotlight Initiative at Two Years: Govt commends EU-UN partnership for impact registered on women and girls

Minister of Gender, Development and Social Welfare Dr. Patricia Kaliati has commended the EU-UN partnership through the Spotlight Initiative for complementing government’s efforts in eliminating violence against women and girls in Malawi. Honourable Kaliati made the remarks during a Spotlight side event at the Africa Gender Equality Conference at the Bingu International Conference Centre in Lilongwe. “The fight against violence against women and girls is not for government alone, it is for everyone. As government, we are excited to see how the Spotlight Initiative has made changes in the lives of women and girls for the past years.” said Minister Kaliati. Minister Kaliati further said the support by the EU-UN partnership to women and girls in Malawi indicates the commitment that development partners have aimed at protecting empowering and developing women and girls. The UN Resident Coordinator to Malawi, Maria Jose Torres Macho, said the successes that the Initiative has registered over the past two years would not have been possible without the unwavering leadership of the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. “I am happy to tell you that, with your ministry’s leadership, nearly a quarter of a million boys and girls were taught to identify and denounce Sexual and Gender Violence and harmful Practices, and as a result- nearly 3,000 cases of child marriage were reported to the authorities,” explained the UN Resident Coordinator. Ms Torres Macho added that in the past two years, women’s assemblies were set up in all Spotlight Initiative six implementing districts to coordinate and propel collective grassroots action towards gender equality. The UN Resident Coordinator further said it is heart-warming to note that development partners, traditional leaders, Civil Society, the media, academia, the private sector have also made important contributions towards eliminating violence against women and girls. In her remarks, the EU Charge D’affaires Aurelie Valtat said the European Union will continue to support efforts to empower women and girls in Malawi, adding that doing so translates to development. “Women and girls are critical in development; it is essential that governments and development partners must design programmes that go a long way in empowering them. The European Union commends the Government of Malawi for its technical support in ensuring that the Spotlight Initiative is designed to empower women and girls,” said Valtat. The Spotlight at 2 years event took place on the side-lines of the African Gender Equality Conference aimed at celebrating the achievements of the Spotlight Initiative so far. The 2021 conference is aligned to the IWD theme Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world. During the event, a high-level panel comprising the Minister of Gender Honorable Patricia Kaliati, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Honourable Halima Daud; Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa V, the CEO of the COMESA Federation of Women in Business and the Deputy Inspector General of the Malawi Police Service alongside the EU and the UN brainstormed on collective approaches to ending violence against women and girls in Malawi.

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23 March 2021

UN urges for sustained fight for gender equality in Malawi

United Nations Resident Coordinator Maria Jose Torres has urged women in the country to continue fighting for equality despite that the COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated challenges such as gender-based violence (GBV). She said this on 8th March in Lilongwe at the national launch of the commemoration of the International Women’s Day (IWD). “As we commemorate International Women’s Day, we realize that things are always changing but to an extent issues affecting women remain the same,” said Torres. “This is why we have to think of a future, a future that is equal for all. This is because, if the issues will not be addressed, there will be no change and that means a future that is not equal for women and girls.’’ She said new barriers have emerged with the COVID-19 pandemic across the world, including Malawi. Women are facing increased domestic violence, unpaid care duties, unemployment and poverty. Despite women making up a majority of front-line workers, she said there is disproportionate and inadequate representation of women in national and global COVID-19 policy spaces. “Let us remember that the period between 2020-2030 was launched by world leaders in September 2019 as the Decade of Action and Delivery to implement the Sustainable Development Goals. It is important to ensure stakeholders tackle both emerging and existing gaps in the realization of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, especially in the COVID-19 context,” said Torres. Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati, who graced the event, said COVID-19 is a huge setback that has threatened to reverse the progress made in achieving gender equality as witnessed by the surge in teenage pregnancies, child marriage, gender-based violence and economic hardships since its onset. She added that there is also limited access to gender-based violence and sexual reproductive health services. “To not leave women behind, we must ensure effective gender mainstreaming in COVID-19 responses and recovery. In line with the African Union Guidelines on Gender Responsive Responses to COVID-19, we will ensure the effective, equal and full participation of women, including grassroots women in all mechanisms established to prevent, contain and end the virus. “These include national response and recovery plans, emergency protocols and all other national decision-making structures like National COVID19 task forces and committees, cabinets, institutions and commissions as well as response and recovery decision-making processes,” said Kaliati. On her part, African Leadership Network – Malawi Chapter Chairperson Emma Kaliya said government and partners should ensure they uphold the rights of women and build capacity for women and girls in order to elevate them in various developmental activities. International Women’s Day is commemorated every year on 8th March and this year’s theme is: Women in Leadership at All Levels: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World.

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08 March 2021

Air of Joy: Hope for Malawi as COVAX delivers first vaccine doses

There was a big sigh of relief at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe on Friday when the boxes containing the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines for Malawi were offloaded from the plane. Ululation and excitement greeted the arrival of the vaccines from COVAX as they offered critical hope that the Southern African country can now reinforce its fight against the pandemic. “I am so excited because that box gives us hope; that box represents restoration,” said Malawi’s Minister of Health Khumbize Chiponda. “That box gives us hope that one day soon, we will have the opportunity to see our beautiful smiles again on our faces.” Malawi has received its first 360,000 doses of Astra Zeneca/Oxford vaccines from COVAX. Chiponda said they expect to rollout the vaccinations within five days, starting with the most-at-risk, who include health workers, those with underlying medical conditions, the elderly from age 60 and others. “COVID-19 brought us a cultural shock. Our economy has suffered tremendously. Our people are struggling to make ends meet. So, in that box, there is hope for Malawi. The vaccine rollout will help reduce deaths, the risk of hospitalization and severe diseases,” said the Minister. Four cabinet ministers, joined by United Nations officials and representatives of the international community, witnessed the arrival of the vaccines in Malawi. UN Resident Coordinator Maria Jose Torres commended the global cooperation under the equitable coronavirus vaccine delivery initiative, COVAX. She said it has ensured Malawi is among the first African countries to access the vaccines at the same time as the developed world. “This is a tremendous effort to stop the virus,” said Torres. “The arrival of these vaccines in Malawi represents the bright side of international cooperation to ensure equality in access to vaccines. This is what the UN is about – solidarity and cooperation.” Malawi also received 360,000 bundled syringes and 3,625 safety boxes for safe disposal of syringes for the COVID-19 vaccination through the COVAX facility on 26 February 2021. An additional 2.1 million syringes and 21,600 safety boxes have been dispatched by sea for Malawi arriving mid-March. Since the outbreak of the pandemic early last year, the UN has been at the forefront supporting Malawi government COVID-19 response, with UN agencies re-programming and mobilising new resources and efforts to support the response. Under the Malawi SDG Acceleration Fund, an additional US$4.5 million has been allocated through its Humanitarian Window in the most urgent and catalytic areas of the response. The Fund is currently channelling US$2 million to support the rollout of the just arrived vaccines to vaccinate those most-at-risk. To date, over 32 000 COVID-19 cases have been recorded in Malawi where the pandemic has claimed over 1,000 lives, heavily burdened health facilities, and disrupted socio-economic services, worsening unemployment, teen pregnancies and child marriage. “The only way out of this crisis is to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are affordable and accessible to all countries. The arrival of these vaccines in Malawi is a proud moment for everyone,” said UNICEF Malawi Representative Rudolf Schwenk. WHO Malawi Representative Nonhlanhla Dlamini said: “The purpose of the COVAX facility is to ensure fair and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines regardless of a country’s wealth status. These deliveries mark the start of what will be the largest, most rapid and complex global rollout of vaccines ever known in history.” COVAX aims to make vaccine distribution as equitable as possible, providing free or discounted vaccinations to qualifying countries. It is co-led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), working in partnership with UNICEF as well as the World Bank, civil society organisations, manufacturers, and others.

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Press Release

16 June 2021

Immediate steps are needed to avoid falling further behind on fighting child labour

Urgent action is needed to eliminate child labour in all sectors of society. A recent global United Nations (UN) child labour report shows that progress has stagnated in the past years. During the commemoration of the World Day Against Child Labour 2021 today in Lilongwe, United Nations Resident Coordinator Maria Jose Torres said that, despite several strides, there is an urgent need for all stakeholders, including national authorities, employers, trade unions, civil society, and local leaders, to step up efforts to end this human rights violation against children in Malawi. “We have only four years left to go to achieve Target 8.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals, which calls for an end to child labour in all its forms by 2025,” said Torres. “New estimates on child labour call on us to take stock of where we stand in the global effort to end child labour as the current situation is alarming.” The International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF, as co-custodians of SDG Target 8.7, launched new Global Estimates on Child Labour last week, showing that progress against child labour worldwide has stalled for the first time in two decades. Some 160 million children are in child labour globally, amounting to almost 1 in 10 of all children worldwide. Nearly half of all those in child labour are in hazardous work. In Malawi, the most recent National Child Labour Survey, conducted in 2015, found that 38 percent of children aged 5 to 17 years are involved in child labour, amounting to 2.1 million children, more than half of whom are engaged in hazardous work. The proportion of working children no longer in school was noted to be higher for girls, and girls were more likely than boys to start working before the age of 10. “As an Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder Country, Malawi is expected to go further and faster to achieve SDG Target 8.7. The UN stands ready to support Malawi to accelerate action to eliminate child labour in line with the country’s international commitments, including as a Pathfinder Country,” said Torres. Deputy Minister of Labour Vera Kamtukule said government is taking necessary actions to end child labour. “We are empowering our district and regional labour officers to ensure that they are going in all sectors to smoke out child labour and forced labour. We are doing this together with other stakeholders to ensure effective inspections,” said Kamtukule. Several UN agencies are supporting government to eliminate child labour in Malawi. ILO is implementing the ACCEL programme to accelerate elimination of child labour in tea and coffee supply chains, as well as a project to address decent work deficits, including child labour, in the country’s tobacco sector. UNICEF is responding to child labour by supporting access to basic services, strengthening national child protection systems and promoting social change. FAO is working with communities to improve food security and livelihoods for an enabling environment that supports children’s access to education and contributes to sustainable reduction of child labour in agriculture. As many of the victims are recruited by human traffickers, UNODC is working with government to establish its domestic legal and policy framework on trafficking in persons, as well as providing training to key sectors, including judicial officers and criminal justice practitioners to identify, investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate involved in trafficking of children for labour exploitation. The theme of the 2021 World Day Against Child Labour is “Act now: end child labour!”

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Press Release

01 April 2021

Malawi’s Ministry of Labour pledges to accelerate efforts for the eradication of child labour

Lilongwe, 1 April 2021 – The Deputy Minister of Labour, Malawi, Honourable Vera Kamtukule has joined the African Union and its Member States, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and other stakeholders in adding her voice in pursuit of the global target to eliminate child labour in all its forms by 2025. On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Malawi, the Deputy Minister pledged that Malawi will move faster than the rest in achieving Target 8.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which calls for immediate and effective measures to eradicate child labour, forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking. She was speaking at the African regional launch of the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour, organized by the African Union with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on Wednesday 31 March 2021. “Malawi is privileged to be one of the few countries on the African continent to have been admitted as a Pathfinder Country under the Alliance 8.7 initiative. This means that Malawi has pledged to move faster than the rest in achieving Target 8.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals, so that others may learn from us. Furthermore, as a member of the International Labour Organization, Malawi, has ratified all eight of the fundamental international labour conventions and has further ratified the Forced Labour Protocol”, stated the Deputy Minister. “In order to fulfil this role, we are undertaking a number of initiatives and actions. Amongst others, we launched in June 2020 the new National Action Plan on Child Labour and the National Child Labour Mainstreaming Guide. These frameworks are particularly useful in involving more stakeholders in our national efforts to eradicate child labour. In addition, we are in the final stages of developing the Labour Market Information System that will enable systematic collection and reporting of administrative data, including in respect of child labour, forced labour and human trafficking”, elaborated the Deputy Minister. She explained that the recently launched Malawi Vision 2063 emphasises access to education for every child up to secondary school level, which would help in the reduction of child labour, adding that the Government’s flagship programme of Community Technical Colleges was expanding access by youth of legal working age to technical and vocational training, thereby improving employability of youth in decent work. The Deputy Minister added: “The Government is moving towards the abolition of the tenancy labour system used in tobacco growing, which is associated with serious decent work deficits, including child labour”. Director of the International Labour Organization’s Country Office for Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, Mr. George Okutho, said that the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour, 2021, declared by the United Nations General Assembly, is a historic opportunity to reaffirm commitments, take action and inspire broad partnerships to preserve the progress made on child labour and related issues such as social justice, inclusion and the reduction of inequalities. “Child labour is widespread in Malawi. The most recent National Child Labour Survey, conducted in 2015, shows that 38 percent of children aged between 5 and 17 in Malawi are involved in child labour, the majority of whom are working in the agriculture sector, and approximately half of whom are engaged in hazardous child labour”, said Mr. Okutho. “In 2021, while fighting child labour, forced labour, human trafficking and modern slavery, Malawi and the global community will need to address the challenges posed by COVID-19”, added Mr. George Okutho. In February 2020, African Heads of State adopted the African Union Ten Year Action Plan to Eradicate Child Labour, Forced Labour, Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery in Africa (2020 – 2030). The Action Plan provides an immediate framework for mobilizing African Union institutions, Member States, Regional Economic Commissions (RECs) and other partners on the continent to scale up efforts and accelerate progress towards the achievement of the African Union Agenda 2063 and SDG Target 8.7. The ILO is a United Nations agency founded in 1919 that brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 countries to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men. Malawi has been a member of the ILO since 1965. [ENDS] Contact: HKK Nyangulu, Labour Commissioner, Ministry of Labour: nyanguluhkk@gmail.com Dylan Van Tromp, Senior Project Officer, ACCEL Africa, ILO: vantromp@ilo.org

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Press Release

08 March 2021

A new specialized business financing vehicle for SMEs in Malawi

Press Release A new Joint Programme funded by the United Nations Joint SDG Fund, which last week announced a US$41 million allocation for accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in four countries, will create a new business financing vehicle in Malawi. The specialized structured blended finance vehicle, the first of its kind in Malawi, will catalyze strategic financing by providing patient and flexible capital solutions to transformative and inclusive business models that drive the achievement of the SDGs in the country. “This is an exciting and ground-breaking initiative that will directly impact mobilization of additional resources for Malawi to support poverty reduction by increasing investments in agriculture, manufacturing and service supply-chains,” said UN Resident Coordinator Maria Jose Torres. “The whole idea of the programme is to de-risk investments, facilitate access to finance for businesses as well as increase productivity by focusing on guaranteeing capital access for the most impactful investments in the production chain.” In reducing poverty and hunger, the Joint Programme will support businesses at different levels of growth in the country’s severely undercapitalized productive sectors, working with the private sector to increase productivity using technology and innovation. The programme will also promote gender equality by supporting businesses in which women are significantly represented in boards, management, staff, suppliers, or buyers. One of the targets for the programme in Malawi is to integrate 75,000 small-scale producers as investees in the supply chains to increase their incomes and, in turn, expand the country’s revenue base. With a total funding of US$8 million (about MK6.2 billion) from the Joint SDG Fund, the programme is anticipated to leverage an estimated US$28 million in co-financing and US$20 million in private investment. “We will also provide technical assistance to accelerate growth and reduce associated risks and costs to businesses. With this programme, we are opening opportunities for job creation for youth and women, and boosting Malawi’s growth,” said Torres. Malawi is among four countries that were selected from 155 proposals from over 100 country applicants across the globe in the $41 million portfolio of the UN’s Joint SDG Fund. The other countries are Fiji, Indonesia and Uruguay. UN Country Teams, in partnership with Governments, engaged senior finance experts to create in-depth approaches and solutions to SDG acceleration. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, Kingdom of Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and our private sector funding partners, this milestone marks a transformative movement to achieving the SDGs by 2030. Three UN agencies, namely UNDP, FAO and UNCDF, will jointly work with the Government of Malawi to implement the Joint Programme. ******************************************** Currently, there are more than 20 Agencies and specialized organizations of the United Nations active in Malawi which, through their work, contribute to ensuring a better life for the people of Malawi.

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Press Release

07 March 2021

Malawi receives first shipment of COVAX COVID-19 vaccines

Press Release Today, Malawi received 360,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine shipped via the COVAX Facility, a partnership between CEPI, Gavi, UNICEF and WHO. This is a historic step to ensure equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines globally, in what will be the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history. The delivery is part of a first wave of arrivals in Africa, and the first tranche of allocations for Malawi, that will continue in the coming months and year through the COVAX Facility. The COVAX Facility shipped 360,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from Serum Institute of India from Mumbai, India, to Lilongwe, Malawi, arriving on the evening of 5 March. The arrival in Lilongwe marks a milestone for Malawi in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic which has claimed over 1000 lives and created a heavy burden on health facilities. The Government of the Republic of Malawi has also received 360,000 bundled syringes and 3,625 safety boxes for safe disposal of syringes for COVID 19 vaccination through the COVAX Facility. An additional 2.1 million syringes and 21,600 safety boxes have been dispatched by sea for Malawi arriving mid-March. The Government of the Republic of Malawi has identified priority groups who will be among the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. These include health care workers, including those working in the private sector, who are at higher risk of COVID 19 infection than the general population due to the nature of their work, and more likely to be affected by COVID-19. Also included in phase one are police, immigration, Malawi Defence Force, teachers, prison warders, prisoners, those 60 years and above, and people with underlying conditions. “The COVID-19 vaccine has come at a right time as it will be used as an added tool to the strategies that my Ministry has put in place to reduce and stop the spread of COVID-19 in our country. The COVID-19 vaccine will be rolled out to help to reduce deaths, the risk of hospitalization and severe diseases from COVID-19. I would like to request those that are eligible to receive the vaccine in the first phase to ensure that they utilize this opportunity and get vaccinated,” said Honourable Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, MP, Minister of Health. The WHO Malawi Representative Dr. Nonhlanhla Dlamini said “WHO congratulates Malawi for preparing the country for the deployment of the vaccines whose arrival we have witnessed today. To achieve the timely and successful introduction, it took a multisectoral collaboration across many sectors. WHO reiterates the purpose of the COVAX facility which is to ensure fair and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines regardless of a country’s wealth status. The deliveries mark the start of what will be the largest, most rapid and complex global rollout of vaccines ever known in history.” “Now that the vaccines are in the country, it is of utmost importance to start vaccinating the intended recipients and WHO is more than ready to continue providing the necessary support for this important endeavour” she added. “The only way out of this crisis is to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are affordable and accessible to all countries. Vaccination should be available all around the globe and people from less wealthy countries should not be left behind in the race to be protected. At UNICEF, we are committed to making this happen. As the largest vaccine buyer in the world, UNICEF is coordinating and supporting the procurement, international freight, and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines for the COVAX Facility. It is a proud moment for everyone, and I must congratulate the Government of Malawi – especially the Ministry of Health – for the tireless work that went behind the scenes to make this happen and protect the people of Malawi,” said UNICEF Malawi Representative Rudolf Schwenk. For several months, COVAX partners have been supporting governments and partners in readiness efforts, in preparation for this moment. They have been especially active in working with some of the world’s poorest countries: those that will benefit from the Advance Market Commitment (AMC), an innovative financial mechanism to help secure global and equitable access for COVID-19 vaccines. This includes assisting with the development of national vaccination plans, support for cold chain infrastructure, as well as stockpiling of half a billion syringes and safety boxes for their disposal, masks, gloves and other equipment to ensure that there is enough equipment for health workers to start vaccinating priority groups as soon as possible. In order for doses to be delivered to COVAX Facility participants via this first allocation round, several critical pieces must be in place, including confirmation of national regulatory authorisation criteria related to the vaccines delivered, indemnification agreements, national vaccination plans from Advance Market Commitment participants, as well as other logistical factors such as export and import licenses. As participants fulfil the above criteria and finalise readiness preparations, COVAX will issue purchase orders to the manufacturer and ship and deliver doses via an iterative process. This means deliveries for the first round of allocation will take place on a rolling basis and in tranches. COVAX is co-led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), working in partnership with UNICEF as well as the World Bank, civil society organisations, manufacturers, and others. COVAX is part of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, a ground-breaking global collaboration to accelerate development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines. COVAX has built a diverse portfolio of vaccines suitable for a range of settings and populations, and is on track to meet its goal of delivering at least 2 billion doses of vaccine to participating countries around the globe in 2021, including at least 1.3 billion donor-funded doses to the 92 lower-income COVAX Facility participants supported by the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment. Press Statement issued by the Government of Malawi.

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