Lilongwe- UNFPA Malawi’s new Country Programme (CP) for 2019 to 2023 was approved by the Executive Board on 5th September. Speaking during the presentation session in New York, Dr. Jullita Onabanjo, UNFPA Regional Director for East and Southern Africa region recognized the need to invest in girls and give them an opportunity to access sexual and reproductive health services. “Many girls fall pregnant far too early, especially those forced into child marriage, or are survivors of sexual and gender-based violence said Dr. Julitta.  “Many face risky childbirth, unsafe abortions and HIV infection, and many will become single parents and drop out of school”.

Reacting to the news, UNFPA Representative in Malawi, Ms. Young Hong was delighted that the new CP has been approved and called upon all stakeholders to start focusing on its implementation in order to produce transformative results as committed in the Country Programme Document(CPD). “Good news to start the day ahead.  Our New CPD is APPROVED !!!” she wrote in an email to all staff. “This CPD will continue to guide us through this very difficult and challenging time globally, nevertheless, thank you all for active participation and engagement with every single stakeholder”

“This CPD will continue to guide us through this very difficult and challenging time globally, nevertheless, thank you all for active participation and engagement with every single stakeholder”

The new country programme aims to Increase family planning satisfaction with modern methods among adolescents to 70% from 58%; ensure that 1,2million adolescents utilize integrated sexual and reproductive health services and information and also increase the number of family planning users among adolescent girls aged 15-19 years.