The United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Coordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Ms. Gerda Verburg visited Malawi from 31 August to 3 September 2021. During the visit, she participated in the launch of Malawi’s Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN 3.0) Strategy and interact with various stakeholders on efforts to eliminate malnutrition in the country. Verburg speaks more about the fight against malnutrition in the responses below: The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement was established over a decade ago to end malnutrition. What progress has the SUN movement achieved in countries like Malawi to eliminate malnutrition since it was established? I’m pleased to share that the SUN Movement has supported its now 64 member states to make some significant nutrition advances. Malawi has created one of the first SUN country movements.  Support comes through an expanding network community that today includes more than 3,000 civil society organisations, some 900 small and medium-sized businesses, and 16 United Nations agencies, both in-country and international. Currently, 23 SUN countries are on track to reach the global breastfeeding target, while 35 are on track to reach the global child overweight target, and 10 are on track to reach the global stunting target – and these figures are increasing each year. It is exciting to see is the transformation of “how” countries are tackling malnutrition. Many are now applying the SUN multi-stakeholder, multisectoral approach. In fact, 42 SUN Member States now have a national nutrition plan which brings together sectors and stakeholders, while 19 countries have included their national SUN Focal Point in their national emergency response team. It is “a must” to include food and nutrition security in each and every emergency response team. Malawi has launched the Scaling Up Nutrition 3.0 Strategy. What does this mean to nutrition efforts in the country? How crucial is this strategy? It was an honour to take part in Malawi’s launch of the SUN 3.0 Strategy. The powerful launch event really demonstrated the strong energy, commitment, and ambition here in Malawi – across all sectors, led by the President – to fight malnutrition in all its forms, towards making good nutrition understood, accessible and affordable for every family in Malawi. I was also touched by the strong and concrete commitments of 10 stakeholder groups, including traditional and religious leaders, media and young people. I will share this inspiring example with other SUN country movements. The SUN 3.0 Strategy further strengthens the “country-driven and country-led” approach of SUN, which has always been at our core. What we saw and heard at the launch event was that the SUN 3.0 Strategy is one catalyst to bring all people together to fight malnutrition as one, because “nutrition is the engine of change and progress”. If Malawi gets nutrition right, socio-economic development, better education, health, productivity, escaping poverty innovation and sustainability will follow easily. Why? Because nutrition is an investment in human capacity and human capacity is the best capital a country has to catalyse development. Malawi is a leader among others in how it is engaging with the SUN 3.0 multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder approach, and should be applauded for this. Considering that Malawi has been implementing SUN interventions for more than 10 years, do you see any difference that the new strategy has from the previous efforts to eliminate malnutrition in the country? Malawi has been a SUN Movement Member Country since 2011, and since then has demonstrated clear achievements. So much so, that it was one of the first SUN Early Risers – those developing countries that had begun to scale up nutrition action at the national level. The expectation now is that, with the implementation of SUN 3.0, Malawi will further gear up to make significant measurable strides in tackling malnutrition by strengthening and expanding its multistakeholder and multisectoral collaboration at community and district levels   Malawi is often criticised for having good policies and strategies which it fails to fully implement. How do you assess the implementation of the previous SUN strategies in Malawi? The numbers speak for themselves here in Malawi. As national SUN Focal Point Dr Felix Pensulo Phiri shared during the launch event, since joining the SUN Movement in 2011, this enabling environment has helped Malawi to reduce stunting from 47% to 33% in 2021; iron deficiency from 51% to 22%; and Vitamin A deficiency from 22% to 4%. These are quite significant figures. But more progress still needs to be made, and new forms of malnutrition are making their way to Malawi, that will now need to be tackled. Overweight is increasing in the country, and it is impacting everyone – children and adults, men and women. This causes not just health issues, but also economic issues for a nation. As the President pointed out at the launch event, trying to respond to problems is more expensive than investing in preventing them from happening. And so, it is encouraging to see that Malawi is now poised to invest in more preventative actions through investing in human and financial capacity. This is the kind of systemic change needed to make malnutrition part of history in Malawi.  What support will the  the SUN Movement be providing to ensure the new SUN 3.0 strategy is fully implemented in Malawi? The SUN Movement is comprised of a SUN Business Network, a SUN Civil Society Network, UN Nutrition, a SUN Donor Network and a SUN Movement Secretariat. Through our new SUN 3.0 Strategy, these structures will be closely aligned and will work jointly and complementarily to further strengthen support tailored to the demand and need of Malawi. Malnutrition is compounded by the recurring climate crisis as communities and families often lose their livelihoods and food when disasters strike. How can countries like Malawi build resilience for good nutrition? This is very critical question, and very relevant. During the launch event, the President highlighted the importance of diversifying diets here in Malawi. Specifically, he called on the people of Malawi to commit to reducing their nsima consumption by 10% per year and replacing this with other more nutritious foods. I applaud the President  for this very concrete guidance on what is needed and what families can do themselves  All men, women and young people, have a role to play in awareness raising and decision making on good nutrition, and this, together with the reform of the Malawian Food System, will certainly strengthen the resiliency of  your beautiful country to move  towards more food diversity that is nutritious and affordable and less dependence on costly food imports during lean seasons.   Women play a vital role in ensuring good nutrition for households. What is the cost of leaving women behind on nutrition and how can this be avoided so that women are at the forefront of efforts to end malnutrition in communities? Yes, women play a vital role in ensuring good nutrition, and women also suffer disproportionately from malnutrition. But, as I said at the launch event, it is not solely a women issue. Nutrition requires the commitment of everyone – across ministries, throughout communities, and within families. It is about women, but men need to rise up to invest in their families, their communities, and their future. The cost of malnutrition, in all its forms, carries huge direct and indirect costs to individuals, families and to entire nations. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has estimated that the impact on the global economy could be as high as US$3.5 trillion per year, or US$500 per individual. Malawi is losing 10.6% of GDP annually due to hampered productivity caused by malnutrition. But malnutrition does more than cost dollars, it costs lives. It is estimated that up to 45% of all preventable child deaths are caused by undernutrition, while severely undernourished children are up to nine times more likely to die than well-nourished children. Ensuring women have access to good nutrition goes a long way to ensuring that their children do too. What things need to change to ensure every child, adolescent, mother, and family realises their right to food and nutrition to reach their full potential? This requires the multi-stakeholder and multisector approach outlined in SUN 3.0. It takes the involvement of stakeholders from government, but also of businesses, civil society, academia, clergy – everyone; and the involvement of all sectors including the health sector, but also the finance, agriculture, social protection, gender, planning, education, religious and local sectors.   Only if all these players really work together on implementation at the family and community levels can game-changing transformation happen in our efforts to bring good nutrition to everyone, everywhere. With the UN Food Systems Summit happening in New York on 23rd September 2021, how can countries like Malawi take advantage of the Summit to boost efforts to end malnutrition? The UN Food Systems Summit and the upcoming global Nutrition for Growth Summit in Tokyo in December provide good mechanisms through which countries, including Malawi, can share their commitments to achieving their nutrition goals. Both summits also promote a country-based multi-stakeholder and multisectoral approach, so leveraging these can also benefit Malawi. I’ve invited the President, the government, and all stakeholders to make strong commitments at each of these summits. By doing this, Malawi could inspire other countries to step up as well. Besides this, 2022 will very likely be the “African year of nutrition and investing in human capacity”, which is a great year to set the pace towards Africa becoming a healthy and nutritious food basket for countries and worldwide.      From a food systems perspective, transformation means progress towards all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. We can no longer afford to sit in silos looking at only one aspect without looking at others. For this reason, I was especially pleased to have the opportunity to meet this week with Malawi’s Honourable Ministers of Health, Agriculture and Finance to explore with each this important multisectoral approach. Very fruitful discussions took place in this regard.  Do you have any additional comments on this issue? It was great to participate in the ambitious launch. I now look forward to ambitious impact and the SUN Movement Global Support System will be there to support where needed.

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. 

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.

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.