The UNFPA's Population and Development (P&D) Unit in Malawi focuses on four key areas: support to the National Statistical Office (NSO), National Population Policy, International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) advocacy and monitoring, and the establishment of the Harmonised National Management Information System (HN-MIS). The overarching goal is to integrate population dynamics into development policies and programs through robust data generation and dissemination.
Key Initiatives Supported by UNFPA:
Support to the National Statistics Office (NSO):
UNFPA played a pivotal role in the 2018 Population and Housing Census by managing a multi-donor trust fund, covering half of the census budget. This initiative enabled the availability of population data at the district and constituency levels, crucial for monitoring progress in implementing the Malawi 10 Year Implementation Plan and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNFPA's ongoing support ensures NSO's effective coordination of the National Statistical System (NSS) for producing up-to-date, relevant data.
Additionally, UNFPA facilitated the creation of the Malawi Data Dissemination Platform (MDDP) to disseminate census data, enhancing accessibility. The collaboration with the National Registration Bureau (NRB) on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) reinforces the importance of accurate demographic information for policymaking.
Harmonised National Management Information System (HN-MIS):
As co-chair of the UN Data group, UNFPA leads the collaboration with the Malawian government to develop the HN-MIS project. The system, driven by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, aims to enhance data collection, analysis, and management for informed governance and economic planning. The HN-MIS is designed to link with existing data systems, supporting data collection at various levels.
International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25):
UNFPA assisted Malawi in formulating and presenting 10 national ICPD commitments, addressing issues such as health financing, cultural practices, demographic dividend, and reproductive health. Post-summit, UNFPA aided in establishing the ICPD National Steering Committee and developing the Monitoring and Reporting Framework, demonstrating a sustained commitment to ICPD goals.
