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Welcome to the United Nations in Malawi |
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UN Vision 2016 - UN Agencies working coherently and effectively to support the government and the people of Malawi to achieve prosperity, human rights and well being.
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WHAT’S NEW IN THE UN MALAWI FAMILY?
UN in Malawi has opened its door to yet another UN agency called United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). UNODC is a co-sponsor of the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). In accordance with the UNAIDS division of labour, UNODC is the lead agency for HIV prevention and care among injecting drug users and in prison settings. The Malawi office will be managed by two people; Ms. Pamela Mkwamba, the Project Coordinator and Ms. Chimwemwe Thole, the Project Assistant. |
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UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Richard Dictus (third right) and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ken Lipenga (second right) sign the UNDAF AP
UNCT and governement officials during the UNDAF AP signing ceremony |
NEW UNDAF FOR MALAWI COMES INTO OPERATION
On March 21, 2012 The United Nations in Malawi and the Malawi Government formally signed the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) Action Plan for Malawi for the period 2012 to 2016.
Speaking at the function, UN Resident Coordinator in Malawi Mr. Richard Dictus said the UNDAF is the collective and strategic response of the UN agencies to contribute to the national priorities related to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
"In Malawi, these priorities have been reflected in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS)," said Mr. Dictus.
He said the UNDAF Action Plan, with its concrete annualised expected results and a robust monitoring and evaluation framework, will help the UN Agencies in Malawi achieve the development aspirations jointly agreed by the Government and the UN during the UNDAF cycle.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister of Finance and Development Planning Dr. Ken Lipenga said the UN assistance contributes a lot to the lives of Malawians and that the Government of Malawi is grateful for that.
"Let me assure you that the funds received will be used for the intended purposes," said Dr. Lipenga.
Through the UNDAF Action Plan, the UN is supporting development work in Malawi with about $602 million.
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UNFPA Resident Representative (right) shakes hands with the presindent (His Excellency Prof. Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika)
The first lady (center) dances with some women at the IWD celebrations
Some UN staff at the IWD celebrations |
UN IN MALAWI JOINS THE REST OF THE WORLD IN CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Malawi held the commemoration on March 17, 2012 with great pomp and colour in the capital, Lilongwe where dances, displays, a women's football match and speeches were conducted.
For more click on this link: http://www.unfpamalawi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=106:malawi-celebrates-international-womens-day&catid=47:unfpa-news&Itemid=167
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UN Staff and some of the orphans at Steka Orphanage
UN Staff engage with some of the orphans during the trip |
UNCARES VISIT STEKA ORPHANAGE
Josia Tepani– UN Plus Malawi
As part of our community support efforts, UN Plus Malawi chapter together with UN Cares Malawi donated assorted items to STEKA Children Home, an orphanage care center in Blantyre, on 23rd February 2012.
UN Plus and UN Cares donated money and items such as sugar, maize, clothes, exercise books, mosquito nets and bags of rice. This donation was well received by the Executive Director of the orphanage care center, Mr. God-knows Maseko, who commended the UN Plus and UN Cares members for their good gestures. He mentioned that the money and items would greatly help children’s lives.
Though some of us are HIV positive and sometimes face difficult circumstances, we can still help others in the small way. We can empower orphans, who often do not know why they have become orphaned.
In our conversations with the staff and the children, we were told some shocking stories, one example was a story about a woman who dumped her two-week old baby in a dust bin. Through a visit like this, I have learned more realities about HIV/AIDS, particularly HIV-positive children who need more attention and support. The team enjoyed and danced to nice music together with the children.
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UPDATES ON THE CAPACITY ASSESMENT
Draft report was presented at the UNCT retreat with a representative from the Staff Association present. It was compiled and circulated to UNCT for their comments. This will further be discussed at the monthly UNCT meeting and then endorsed.
UNCT will develop a capacity development action plan based on the report. |
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The UNCT pose for a group photograph during the retreat
The UNCT engage in a discussion during the retreat
Participants engage in group work during the retreat |
UNITED NATIONS COUNTRY TEAM HOLD A RETREAT
The UNCT retreat was held between the 21st and 23rd February 2012 at Ufulu gardens. Representatives from resident and non-resident agencies attended the three day retreat. The UNCT brainstormed on new opportunities and the rapidly increasing complexities and challenges facing the UN. They recognized the need to continue to invest in the “team” and agreed on various new areas and ways of cooperation that will enhance Delivering as One. |
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UNCT and UN staff members during group work.
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UN Staff Townhall Meeting
25th January 2012
The first UN townhall meeting for 2012 was held on 25th January. This was a Capacity Assessment townhall where the UNCT and the consultants from the Malawi Institute of Management (MIM) discussed the aims of the capacity assessment with UN staff. During the meeting, a team from MIM made a presentation on the process they will undertake in order to come up with this capacity assessment.
We will keep you updated about the capacity assessment as it unfolds in the coming weeks. |
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Government Officials and Developing Partners eagerly waiting to see the new medical supplies
The chartered Boeing 747 delivering the medical supplies at KIA
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First Consignment of the Multi-Million US$ Primary Health Care Essential Medicines Arrives
On 6 January 2012, the government of Malawi received the first consignment of the essential drugs which have been donated by the health development partners namely; Governments of Germany (through KFW), Norway, the United Kingdom (through DFID), the United States (through USAID) and the United Nations. The drugs will be supplied to primary health care facilities through a project designed to help Malawi address the widespread shortages at health facilities.
The project is a response to an emergency request from Government made in July 2011 to assist with the supply of essential drugs to address a national shortage. The project is very important as it will protect and save the lives of Malawians who are most in need of these essential drugs and supplies, particularly in rural and remote areas. The Development Partner Emergency Drug Procurement project was subsequently announced in December 2011, in which DFID, Norway and Germany jointly committed almost USD33 million for the emergency procurement of selected essential medicines in primary health care facilities. UN is leading on procurement; USAID through the deliver project will manage distribution to as many as 620 health facilities throughout the country.
For more information click here |
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Dr Jane Muita, on behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator handing over parcel to Gresham Chinsema, the Village supervisor
Some of the UN staff members playing with the children at the orphanage |
UN STAFF VISIT ORPHANAGE
22 December 2011
As part of sharing with the less privileged, on 22 December 2011, a UN Cares team comprising staff from different UN agencies donated assorted gift items to orphans at the Mtendere Orphan Care Center and interacted and played fun games with the children.
Gresham Chisema, the village supervisor, thanked the team for sparing their time to cheer the children. “These children have a lot of basic needs, we’ve had many visitors come in to see them and assist in any way they can. We are so excited that the UN decided to visit us during this festive season.”
One of the children, Bertha Banda, aged 6 could not hide her excitement when she received a hamper of assorted items. “I am very happy because I know I will eat nice food on Christmas, I love Kamba puffs and I have seen a lot of Kamba here”, she said.
Speaking at the function, Dr Jane Muita who represented the UN Resident Coordinator, said the visit was motivated by the desire by the UN family to share with the less privileged.
“I would like to tell you that as you enter 2012, you should know that we are with you and the work we do is meant to help people like you. Even if we will not come here as often as we would like, remember that we are always working on your behalf.” |
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The Resident Coordinator and members of the UNCT cutting a Cake celebrating the 66th anniversary of the United Nations
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UN STAFF TOWNHALL MEETING
28 October 2011
The last UN Staff Townhall Meeting for 2011 was held on 28th October 2011. The theme of the townhall was Climate Change. The guest speaker was Sosten Chiotcha, a professor from the University of Malawi and Regional Programme Director of LEAD Eastern and Southern Africa. This Townhall also commemorated UN Day, and 66 years of the United Nations.
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UN Country Team, UN Resident Corrdinator Richard Dictus and Deputy Minister of Finance Dr. Mwalwanda
Deputy Minister of Finance Dr. Mwalwanda
Audience at UNDAF Launch
 
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UNDAF 2012-2016 Launch
24th October 2011
Click here to view document
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 Malawi UN Country Team members, the ICT mission delegates and members of the Malawi ICT working group pose for a group photograph at the end of a successful ICT mission
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Joint UN Inter-Agency ICT Assessment Mission to Malawi
4th – 8th July 2011
In March 2009 the High Level Committee on Management mission visited Malawi, and a lot of emphasis on an integrated ICT system to enhance efficiency and effectiveness was placed. It was envisioned that through the development of country level shared ICT services, cost savings, efficiency and other benefits would be realized from establishing “a reliable and high-speed infrastructure designed for services required by the UN in Malawi to function as 'ONE UN'”.
On the 3rd July 2011, a team of three highly qualified technical specialists from the UNDG Task Team at headquarters level visited Malawi and worked with the ICT Working Group in conducting a technical ICT assessment of various UN agencies in the country and local ICT service providers between 04-08th July 2011. A summary report was presented in the mission’s exit debriefing to the UNCT, OMT and ICT WG. The team is currently working on a detailed report which will be shared with UNCT once ready. It is anticipated that a workable cost-effective and efficient integrated ICT system will be developed with the insightful guidance of the mission through their detailed report. |
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Resident Coordinator Mr. Richard Dictus presenting a gift to the guest speaker, Justice Jane Ansah
Presentation by UNFPA Resident Representative, Athanase Nzokirishaka
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UN STAFF TOWNHALL MEETING
22nd June 2011, UNICEF Conference Room
The first 2011 townhall meeting was held on 22nd June. As per tradition, the UN Malawi regularly holds these townhall meetings as a means of focusing our staff on the key challenges facing Malawi and the actions to which they can contribute to ensure meaningful progress. The theme for the townhall meeting was ‘Gender’.
The guest speaker during the June townhall meeting was Justice Jane Ansah, Supreme High Court Judge and former Attorney General. She addressed the UN staff and shared her knowledge and views on where Malawi stands in terms of attaining gender parity with respect to the protocols and conventions the country has signed, what are the impediments to progress, and what needs to be done to accelerate progress. In her presentation, she indicated that Malawi has made progress in aligning its national legislation with international human rights conventions, through the passage of laws and the ratification of several international and regional treaties.
The Resident Coordinator, Richard Dictus, made a presentation on UN Capacity Assessment. He pointed out that the UN Country Team (UNCT) in Malawi agreed in April 2010 to conduct a UN Capacity Assessment. As the UN is finalizing the formulation of the new UNDAF 2012-2016, the human resource requirement to implement the UNADF needs to be mapped against the availability of staff capacity skills.
UNFPA’s Resident Representative, Athanase Nzokirishaka, made a presentation on ‘Investing in Gender and Development-UN’s interventions in Malawi’. In his presentation, he stressed that while Malawi is on track on five out of the eight MDGs, it is notable that the three MDGs (MDG 2, 3 and 5) where expectations are not being met, have very pronounced gender connotations. |
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Audience at the Candlelight Memorial
Patrick Brenny, UNAIDS Country Coordinator giving his remarks at the Candlelight Memorial
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 UN CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL 27TH MAY 2011
Every year the UN gathers to commemorate the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial along with other countries globally for three main objectives:
1. To honour the memory of those who have died of HIV-related illnesses
2. To show our support to those living with HIV and those affected by HIV and AIDS; encouraging people living with HIV and AIDS to come out in the open as a way of responding to stigma and discrimination; this is the most distasteful enemy invading in aspects of human rights.
3. To renew our determination to reduce the further spread of infection and mitigate the impact of the epidemic in our beautiful country.
Read Speech Given by UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Richard Dictus
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UN Resident Coordinator, Richard Dictus, Deputy Minister of Finance, Honorable Fraser Nihorya, and members of the UN Country Team addressing the media
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MGDS II AND UNDAF ALIGNMENT WORKSHOP-10TH MAY 2011
The United Nations in Malawi is in the final stages of developing its United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for the period 2012-2016. The UNDAF is a five-year programme of support that encapsulates the areas of Malawi’s development that the United Nations, through its various agencies, intends to support during the five year period. The central purpose of the UNDAF is to help Malawi achieve the Millennium Development Goals as nationally articulated through the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS II).
The UNDAF brings together the work of all the UN agencies in Malawi into one strategic framework and focuses on areas where the UN has its comparative advantages. Through the UNDAF, the UN in Malawi is defining its role in terms of where and how it will support the attainment of MGDS II. Efforts are therefore being made to ensure that the UNDAF is well informed by and aligned to the MGDS, the basis for strengthening the long and deep partnership between the Government of Malawi and the UN system.
An MGDS II – UNDAF Alignment Workshop was held on Tuesday, 10 May 2011at 8:00am atCapital Hotel in Lilongwe. It brought together government officials, UN staff, development partners and civil society representatives. The objectives of the workshop were:
1. To valaidate the UNDAF's outcomes and its strategic alignment to the MGDS II
2. To agree on the UN's comparative advantage and division of labour within the UN system, and
3. To agree on an arrangement for implementation of the UNDAF
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UNFPA Resident Representative, Athanase Nzokirishaka, delivering his speech during the 2011 International Women's Day
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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2011
On 8th March, 2011, Malawi joined the world in commemorating International women’s day. The Theme for the commemoration in Malawi was ‘Equal access to Education, Training, Science and Technology: Assurance to safe Motherhood and Total Empowerment to Women and the Girl Child”. The United Nations in Malawi through UNFPA provided technical and financial support towards the commemoration of this day.
In his speech UNFPA’s Resident Representative, Athanase Nzokirishaka, reminded the gathering that education is key to development and indicated that if all the girls had access to education and opportunities there would be a lot of benefits to the country. He further appealed to all stakeholders to step up their efforts on access to education as this is a key to safe motherhood and women empowerment.
He pledged UN’s support to government and other stakeholders in the quest towards promotion of women empowerment through young people programmes especially adolescent girls’ friendly activities.
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UN Resident Coordinator and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honorable Etta Banda
Audience at the Launch
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LAUNCH OF A UN PUBLICATION
THE UNITED ACTION: THE UNITED NATIONS IN MALAWI
The United Action: The United Nations in Malawi 2008 -2011, is a publication by the United Nations in Malawi, of which the main objective is to raise awareness about the UN assistance programme in Malawi. The publication also highlights how the UN aligns i'ts development assistance, through the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, to the national development strategy – the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy.
The book was launched by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Etta Banda, on 3rd December 2010 at UNDP in Lilongwe.The book demonstrates how the United Nations will continue supporting ordinary Malawians in their effort to improve their lives.
There was also a photo display highlighting the important work being supported in the five areas: sustainable economic development and food security, social protection and disaster risk reduction, social development, HIV and AIDS, and good governance.
The United Nations is committed to continue supporting the government to improve the wellbeing of all Malawians.
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First Lady, Madam Callista Mutharika, addressing UN staff
UN Resident Coordinator, Richard Dictus, Delivering his speech
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UN TOWNHALL MEETING -20th November 2010
The townhall meeting is one of several such meetings that the UN in Malawi holds regularly in a year to try and focus our attention on achieving results for the people of Malawi. The UN has made it a custom to invite external guest speakers as a way of enriching the discussions during the townhall meetings.
The United Nations in Malawi is committed to helping the government of Malawi to reduce maternal deaths. During its November 2010 Townhall Meeting under the theme of maternal health, the UN invited the First Lady Mrs.Callista Mutharika, in her capacity as Coordinator and Director of safe motherhood to address UN members of Staff and inspire them as they work together towards making motherhood both safe and enjoyable.
Maternal Health is defined as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days after termination of pregnancy from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management. But there is a substantial benefit of action in that Maternal Deaths can be prevented through simple and cost effective measures.
Malawi’s maternal mortality is currently at 807 per 100,000 births. While motherhood is often a positive and fulfilling experience, for too many women, it is associated with suffering, ill health and even death.
In her speech, she commended the good work that the United Nations in Malawi is doing in helping the government of Malawi uplift the standards of the poor. She further reminded the gathering that Malawi has been a beneficiary of the United Nations support since 1964 and a lot has been achieved in the area of economic and social development. She said that through the United Nations, universal respect for human rights and non-discrimination based on race, sex, language, or religion has been promoted.
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Rural Malawi Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis
March 2010
Experts from different organizations have contributed to the drafting of this report, including from WFP:
Mr Lazarus Gonani, Ms Grace Matewere, Ms Dorothy Tembo, Mr Victor Mhango, Ms Chiara Brunelli, Mr Eric
Kenefick, Mr Andrea Berardo and Mr Maliki Amadou Mahamane; from the Government: Mr Ishmael Gondwe,
Mr Richard Kajombo, Mr Frederick Msiska, Mr Benjamin Banda and Mr Andrew Jamali; and from the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Mr Samson Kankhande.
The report has been reviewed and cleared by the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) under
the coordination of Dr Hannock Kumwenda, Director of the Ministry of Development Planning and
Cooperation, and the CFSVA task force, chaired by Mr Ishmael Gondwe from the National Statistical Office.
Other task force members include Mr Richard Kajombo from Ministry of evelopment Planning and
Cooperation, Mr Frederick Msiska from Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Benjamin Banda and Mr
Andrew Jamali from the National Statistical Office, Mr Samson Kankhande from FAO and Mr Lazarus Gonani,
Ms Grace Matewere, and Ms Dorothy Tembo from WFP.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is pleased to announce the arrival of the new Representative and Country Director, Mr. Abdoulaye Diop.
A Malian citizen, Diop presented his credentials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Etta Banda, and MP on 5 March 2010.
Prior to this appointment, Diop served on several diplomatic missions as the Malian Ambassador to the United States, accredited to Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Uruguay and Peru with residence in Washington DC, World Bank and IMF.
Diop has also served as a vice-chairman of the Board of Directors of the Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa, a non-governmental organization based in Washington DC. Diop has also been a Senior Adviser to the President of the Republic of Mali and member of the Steering Committee of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) |
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PRESS RELEASE - MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER ARE VICTIMS OF HUNGER
Food and Agriculture Organisation of The United Nations, FAO |
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Read about these events and other news in the Media Centre »
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Malawi and the MDGs
