The Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation, Josephy Mathyola Mwanamveka, has presided over a high-level Youth Pre-Budget Consultation held at the Bingu International Conference Centre, marking a decisive step toward inclusive formulation of the 2026–2027 National Budget.
The consultative session brought together young innovators, entrepreneurs, policy advocates, and development partners in a robust conversation aimed at ensuring that the national budget reflects youth priorities, innovation-led growth, and job creation. The engagement underscored government’s commitment to participatory economic governance and evidence-based fiscal planning.
Upon arrival, Honourable Mwanamveka toured exhibition pavilions showcasing youth-led innovations supported under the Youth Innovation Fund. He commended the ingenuity, scalability, and market relevance of the showcased solutions, noting that youth-driven innovation is central to accelerating productivity, industrialization, and inclusive growth.
In his remarks, the Minister reaffirmed that youth are not merely beneficiaries of public policy but strategic partners in national development. He emphasized that insights gathered during the consultation will directly inform budget priorities, including skills development, access to finance, digital transformation, and support for small and medium enterprises.
Participants welcomed the platform, describing it as timely and impactful, and expressed optimism that their proposals would translate into tangible budgetary commitments. Development partners and stakeholders echoed the sentiment, applauding the Ministry for institutionalizing structured dialogue with young people ahead of the budget.
The Youth Pre-Budget Consultation at BICC signals a forward-looking approach to fiscal policy—one that places young people at the heart of Malawi’s economic planning and positions innovation as a catalyst for sustainable development in the 2026–2027 financial year.