Situational Analysis on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Malawi

Since ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2009, Malawi has made significant progress in recognizing and addressing the rights of persons with disabilities. This progress includes reviewing national disability policies and legislative frameworks and strengthening disability bodies such as the Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA) and the Federation of Disabilities Organizations in Malawi (FEDOMA). Malawi now boasts a vibrant disability movement with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) at both national and community levels, alongside national and international civil society organizations that play crucial roles in advocacy, service delivery and economic empowerment for persons with disabilities. Despite these advancements, significant gaps remain in fully realizing the rights of persons with disabilities across various development sectors. Negative attitudes and discrimination persist, compounded by weaknesses in coordination, in disability data gathering systems and in assessment, referral and basic service systems, which hinder meaningful participation in socio-economic development.

To identify the key challenges, a detailed Situational Analysis was conducted from October 2024 to February 2025. This analysis, based on the Global Disability Fund’s (GDF) analytical framework, identifies key bottlenecks and challenges in realizing fundamental human rights for persons with disabilities. The analysis is primarily based on secondary literature review, supplemented by stakeholder consultations and interviews with persons with disabilities across Malawi.