CONGOMA on 22nd & 29th July interacted with the private sector in Blantyre and Lilongwe respectively with the aim of strengthening the relationship the private sector has with the NGO community. The NGO Community recognizes the private sector as their partners in achieving the aspirations of Agenda 2030- Sustainable development goals and Agenda 2063 of the African Union.
Among other things the event introduced the NGO directory; CONGOMA as a hub of information on NGOs in Malawi; the NGO Week, the products it brings and the opportunities that the Week can bring which include publicity of the products and services; interaction with NGOs and chance to engage other stakeholders in policy dialogue on topical issues of business development in Malawi.
Going by a quote by Henry Ford which says; “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” This event is a first step to ensuring that private sector and NGO community work together in fighting poverty in Malawi. As studies have shown, Poverty and inequality is on the rise in Malawi with over 50% of the people being poor. As such neither private sector nor Civil Society Sector nor Government can afford to work in isolation, hence the need to collaborate and network to break the cycle of poverty.