Zambia and Malawi Collaborate to Strengthen Social Protection Programs
Zambia and Malawi have embarked on a collaborative effort to share experiences and best practices in the effective implementation of social protection programs, to address poverty and vulnerability within their respective countries.
Recognizing shared challenges such as droughts and unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change, both nations have underscored the importance of exchanging knowledge and strategies to overcome barriers affecting human development.
A delegation from Malawi, led by Dr. Nertha Semphere Mgala, Principal Secretary for Gender and Community Development, visited Zambia on a social protection exchange visit.
During a courtesy call on Ms. Angela Kawandami, Permanent Secretary of Zambia’s Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, discussions centered on the strides Zambia has made in addressing poverty and vulnerability.
Ms. Kawandami highlighted Zambia’s achievements, including providing over 1.3 million households with access to the Social Cash Transfer program.
She attributed this success to the implementation of regular, effective, timely, and digitized payment systems across all 116 districts in the country.
Additionally, Zambia has adopted a Cash Plus approach, incorporating complementary programs alongside regular cash transfers to maximize effectiveness and impact on beneficiaries.
Dr. Mgala acknowledged the significance of sharing experiences, successes, and challenges between the two countries.
She emphasized the importance of collaboration and knowledge exchange in developing more inclusive, sustainable, and effective social protection systems.
The exchange visit presents an opportunity for Zambia and Malawi to learn from each other’s experiences, inspire positive change, and reaffirm their commitment to advancing social protection agendas that prioritize leaving no one behind.
