The United Nations has released the Common Country Analysis for Malawi 2021. The analysis was released at BICC on 29th September 2021, in the presence of stakeholders including CONGOMA.
The main areas that are covered in the analysis are; leaving no-one behind, people, prosperity and Peace and Planet. The analysis emphasized that urgent action is needed to address poverty reduction and wealth creation.
The key messages from the 2020 – 2021 CCA included that there is need to empower some groups of people that were left behind to become agents of change and participate in political, social economic transformation and prosperity.
Governance capacity needs to be strengthened to effectively deliver public services. A strong focus is required on addressing existing environmental challenges such as land degradation and deforestation as these have severe ecological, economic and social consequences that increase vulnerability to climate change.
The analysis also emphasized on leaving no one behind. It identified vulnerable groups that face significant inequalities, discrimination and violence. The groups that included youths, women, people living with HIV, asylum seekers and refugees, the elderly, persons with disabilities, people with albinism and LGBTQI.
The analysis also noted that poverty rates remain high in Malawi and that it affects women disproportionally. 87% of the population still lives in the rural areas and poverty in rural areas is 56.6% whereas it is 19.2% in the urban areas, according to the analysis. People die from preventable diseases because the Health sector capacity is overstretched.
Access to Secondary education is still an issue. 90% of children access primary education but many of these children are unable to read or write by the end of standard 8. Only 24% of children complete their secondary school education. Girls are more likely to drop out of school before secondary school. There are 99 children per teacher. School infrastructure is also a challenge.
The analysis also covered issues of access to energy, public debt, peace and prosperity and climate change.
The UN is supporting interventions aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and leaving no one behind to help realize Malawi’s development vision. The Civil Society are also part of the stakeholders in the achievement of the SDGs.