Lilongwe, Malawi­­ -  The Malawi Government has applauded the United Population Fund (UNFPA) for its technical and financial support towards access to quality sexual reproductive and health rights for women and young people and its leadership in data and population management issues.

Speaking during the 2022 mid-year programme review meeting held in Lilongwe from the 1^st to the 2^nd of September, Mr. Patrick Zimpita, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs said the collaboration between the Malawi Government and UNFPA is key for the country to achieve national development goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“Population and development are closely linked,” said Mr. Zimpita, adding, “Addressing population issues, therefore, is essential for complementing government efforts in achieving sustainable socio-economic development.”

Mr. Zimpita further noted that his Ministry attaches great importance to the programme review meeting that UNFPA organized as it added value to ‘implementation, promotes teamwork and ownership, eliminates duplication as well as strengthens collaboration and synergy’.

The mid-year programme review, which brought together 28 implementing partners, including Government departments working with UNFPA, sought to review status of the implementation of 2022 planned activities, status of budget implementation and achievement of planned results during the first half of the year.

A representative from one of the Implementing Partners, Twambilile Kayuni said the programme review meeting accorded her an opportunity to share experiences, successes as well as challenges faced during implementation of programmes.

“I have learnt a lot from attending this programme review meeting,” said Ms. Kayuni who is the Programme Coordinator for Girls Empowerment Network (GENET). “There were many lessons to be learnt, which we will use as GENET to improve our programme delivery.”

In her closing remarks, UNFPA Malawi OIC, Ms. Miranda Tabifor explained that the mid-year review provided UNFPA and its partners an opportunity to take stock of key results achieved, discuss emerging issues, make recommendations and strategize on accelerating implementation.

She added: “UNFPA appreciates the collaboration  with the  Government of Malawi in the implementation of the 8th CPD. This has ensured access to sexual reproductive health and rights services including family planning to women, girls and young people towards achieving the three transformative results.”

The UNFPA three transformative results aims to achieve three world-changing results by 2030, the deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The transformative results are ending preventable maternal deaths, ending unmet need for family planning, and ending GBV and harmful practices, including female genital mutilation and child marriage.

By Joseph Scott, Communications Analyst