The head of EU delegation in Malawi, Lluis Navarro has commended UNFPA, Government of Malawi and its implementing partners for successfully implementing the four year gender equality and women empowerment, GEWE project. The project has seen many women economically empowered and cases of GBV reported and resolved among other successful outcomes. He said EU has witnessed the change that GEWE has brought to women and girls in the communities; women benefiting from vocational training provided by the programme, survivors of gender based violence assisted with access to justice and girls saved from child marriage and now back to school. He also added that stakeholders have been working together and communities being mobilized to address issues of gender equality.
We should also not forget about such key developments like adoption of the Gender Equality Act and successes like termination of child marriages by Chief Kachindamoto that gained recognition for her work even outside of Malawi. I could probably list more successes but you know them best as you are the ones who made them happen, he said during the review meeting to mark the end of the project.
The Minister for Gender, Dr. Jean Kalilani was pleased with the results registered so far and requested for continued support in the areas that have had significant impact during the project.
GEWE Project in Malawi
GEWE project started in the year 2012. The total cost was €11,710, 443.11 whereby the European Union, EU contributed €10,902,950.11 (93.10%) and UNFPA contributed €807,493.00 (6.90%). UNFPA took the responsibility of executing the agreement on behalf of the Malawi Government.
The project targeted 13 districts representing the diversity of gender issues in all the three regions of Malawi.
The primary end beneficiaries of this programme include women, men, girls and boys, particularly in the 13 target districts. The beneficiaries were reached directly or indirectly by the implementing partners including the Ministry of Gender and Civil society organization with interventions aimed at improving gender equity and equality. Other key beneficiaries for this intervention were Government Ministries and Departments; Civil Society Organizations and Non State Actors; academic and research institutions; District Councils and Traditional Authorities
