The United Nations (UN) Women Malawi has unveiled its ambitious 2024-2028 Strategic Plan, which aims to foster transformative change in gender equality and women’s empowerment across the country. The plan outlines key initiatives, including increasing women’s participation in politics and governance, providing skills development, enhancing economic opportunities, and promoting coordinated efforts toward achieving gender equality.
The official launch, held in Lilongwe, was presided over by the Minister of Gender, Community Development, and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza. In her remarks, Sendeza emphasized the need for the organization to ensure the full implementation of the strategic plan.
“The success of this framework lies in its execution. We challenge UN Women Malawi to translate these strategies into actionable and impactful programs for the benefit of Malawian women,” she said.
UN Women Malawi Country Representative, Letty Chiwara, expressed confidence in the implementation of the plan. She revealed that funding has already been secured for several programs outlined in the strategy.
“We are optimistic about the successful roll-out of this strategic plan. With funding for some of the initiatives already in place, we are ready to work collaboratively with partners to achieve our goals,” Chiwara stated.
Non-Governmental Organization Gender Coordination Network Chairperson, Maggie Kathewera Banda, applauded UN Women for developing a comprehensive framework. She highlighted the importance of such a plan in addressing gender disparities in Malawi.
“This strategic plan is a significant step forward in the fight for gender equality. It demonstrates UN Women’s commitment to empowering women and ensuring their voices are heard in all sectors,” Kathewera Banda said.
The 2024-2028 Strategic Plan is expected to play a pivotal role in advancing gender equality in Malawi. Through targeted programs, it seeks to address systemic challenges and create an enabling environment for women to thrive in leadership, economic, and social spheres.
As implementation begins, stakeholders are hopeful that the plan will bring measurable progress in empowering Malawian women and closing the gender gap.
