THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWICOUNTRY REPORT

Joseph Kazima, Gender MainstreamingDivision, Ministry of Gender, Childrenand Community DevelopmentFebruary 2010

Presentation Outline• Basic Information on Malawi• My position in the NGM and JobDescriptions• Major Policies on Gender Equality inMalawi

Presentation Outline Cont’d• Challenges in Mainstreaming Genderin Malawi• Skills and Knowledge gained from theSeminar• Action Plan

Basic Information on Malawi• Established in 1891, the British
protectorate of Nyasaland became anindependent nation of Malawi in 1964.
• After three decades of one-party rule
under President Ngwazi Dr. Hastings
Kamuzu BANDA the country held
multiparty elections in 1994.

Basic Information on Malawi Cont’d• Current President Dr. Bingu wa
MUTHARIKA, was elected in May 2004
• The Republic of Malawi is referred to as
the “Warm Heart of Africa”• Why?

The Malawi President Dr.
Mutharika-addressing the UN
General AssemblyBasic Information on Malawi Cont’d• Located in Central Africa sharing
boundaries with Tanzania, Zambia, andMozambique• Has a population of 13,013,926; & a landarea of 118,480 km2 (45,745 sq. miles)
with a 350 km long fresh water great rift
valley lake “Lake Malawi”

Basic Information on Malawi Cont’d• Lilongwe is the Capital City of Malawi• Official Currency is Malawi Kwacha(MK)• Languages: English (Commercial);
Chichewa (Official Local)

Basic Information on Malawi• Malawi is rich in culture. This isevident in initiation ceremonies,traditional dances, among others.
• “Gulewamkulu or Nyau” which inliteral translation means Supreme orBig dance is one of the most popular
dance in Malawi. Below is a picture ofNyau dancers

“Gulewamkulu” or SupremeDanceOrganizational Structure of theMalawi NGM• The National Gender Machinery’s(NGM’s) secretariat is theDepartment of Gender Affairs (DGA).
It is this secretariat whoseorganogram has been isolated• The NGM has 3 technicaldepartments which are GenderAffairs; Child Affairs; & Community
Development.

Organizational Structure of theMalawi NGM• Malawi is operating in a decentralizedstructure. The 28 District Assemblies(DA’s) in Malawi are under theadministration of the District
Commissioners• The NGM only backstop district officers
with technical support

Organizational Structure of theMalawi NGMDirector of Gender Affairs

Secretary(P3)Deputy Director of Gender Affairs(P4)

Secretary

Women Empowerment Division
Assistant Director (P5)

Secretary

Gender Mainstreaming Division
Assistant Director (P5)
Secretary

Senior Gender
Programmes Officer(P8)-Legal Services

Principal Genderand Development
Officer (P7)Women Social
Empowerment

Principal Gender andDevelopment Officer (P7)Women EconomicEmpowerment

Principal Gender andDevelopment Officer(P7)- (Gender Planning& Programming )Principal Genderand Development
Officer (P7)(Training)

Principal
Gender andDevelopment
Officer (P7)GuidelinesandStandards

Mulanje Mountain-3001m highPosition of the Author in the NGM
and Job Descriptions
I am Principal Gender and Development
Officer responsible for Gender
Mainstreaming with job description as
follows:• Coordinate development, review,adoption and popularisation of policies,
programmes, protocols and guidelines
and procedures for public, private andcivil society sectors

Position of the Author in the NGM
and Job Descriptions• Strengthen and operationalise national
gender systems and structures at alllevels.
• Promote gender budgeting,mainstreaming capacity building
initiatives at all levels in collaboration
with stakeholders, training institutions,
universities and development partners

Position of the Author in the NGM
and Job Descriptions• Facilitate and coordinate gendermainstreaming initiatives throughdeveloping and implementation ofappropriate programmes,campaigns and advocacy activities.

Position of the Author in the NGM
and Job Descriptions• Coordinate and facilitate monitoring,
communication, information sharing
and documentation of best practices
on gender equality initiatives within
Malawi with Africa Union andgloballyPosition of the Author in the NGM
and Job Descriptions• Facilitate conducting of research,evaluation and country reporting on
gender equality initiatives incollaboration with the department ofPlanning and Research

Malawi Football Team “TheFlames”

Major Policies & Strategies onGender Equality in Malawi• The Malawi Constitution which
enshrines the principle of equality,
section 24(2).
• The Malawi Growth and Development
Strategy (MGDS), as an overarchingpolicy document with the Gender Sub
theme in the Social Development
pillar.

Major Policies on Gender Equality inMalawi• The National Gender Policy and its
Programme• Sectoral Gender Policies

Tea Picking Activity

Challenges in Mainstreaming
Gender in Malawi• Stereotypical attitudes which perpetuatebeliefs and practices that leadership is aman’s domain, and political violencealso limit women participation• Poor enforcement or lack of legislation,
on certain specific issues like property
grabbing from women who lose theirspouses

Challenges in Mainstreaming
Gender in Malawi• Limited capacity of the sectors tomainstream gender in policies,
projects and budgets.

Useful knowledge and skills
obtained from the seminar• Obtained diversified skills due to thediversity of topics covered by theseminar but also the diversity of theparticipating countries.
• Of particular interest were: Gender
Budgeting; Gender Statistics; andGender Project Cycle Management.

Pop Singer, Madonna & adopted
Malawian Boy, DavidImplementing Agency:
Ministry of Gender, Children &Community Development; Ministry ofFinance and National Statistical
Office/ Ministry of Development
Planning and Cooperation

Target Group:
Public Sector Officers-Gender Focal
Point Officers (50), Planning andBudgeting Officers at Central (100)and District level (64), Planning andBudgeting Directors (50); Members of
Parliamentary Committee on Finance(15)

Activities• Conduct research on unpaid
economy and its potential
contribution to the country’s Gross
Domestic Product (GDP)• Meeting with Ministry of Finance tosupport gender budgeting initiative

Activities• Conduct a five day training for
sectoral gender planning andbudgeting officers on genderbudgeting• Conduct a five day training forDistrict Assembly Planning andBudgeting Officers on genderbudgetingActivities• Conduct one day orientation session
for Members of the Parliamentary
Committee on Finance on genderbudgeting• Hold quarterly review and planningmeetings with gender focal point
and planning and budgeting officers

Malawi VP Rt. Hon Joyce Banda“The Safe Motherhood
Ambassador”

Expected Outcomes• Gender Responsive Budget
benefiting women, men, boys andgirls• Planning & Budgeting Officers
become gender sensitive

Cost of the Project:
US$75,000 /(JPY 6,900,000)

Source of funding:
Development Partners (UNDP;UNFPA; JICA); Ministry of Gender,Children and Community
Development (Other Recurrent
Transaction-ORT Budget)ありがとうございます