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Voluntary National Review 2022

1.0 Introduction

The 2022 Voluntary National Review (VNR) is the second report for Malawi. It provides an overview of the progress made since the first VNR in 2020, and catalogues key actions needed for Malawi to achieve most of SDGs by 2030. This VNR comes soon after Malawi launched the Malawi 2063 (MW2063) vision and its operational plan, MW2063 First 10-Year Implementation Plan (MIP-1) for the period 2021 to 2030 aimed at graduating Malawi to a middle-income country and meeting most of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2.0 Country ownership and Institutional mechanisms

Malawi has domesticated SDGs into the national development agenda to ensure that they are implemented within the national mechanism. Using the Integrated Planning and Reporting Tool (IPTR), MIP-1 is 82% aligned to the SDGs. The implementation and reviews of the SDGs is coordinated through Pillar and Enabler Coordination Groups (PECGs) which comprise government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, private sector organisation and academia.

3.0 Leaving no one behind

To ensure an inclusivity, the government of Malawi is undertaking initiatives to protect and uplift vulnerable and marginalized people in Malawi some of which are:

· Affordable Input Programme that targets poor farming households to access subsidized farm inputs to enhance farm productivity

· Implementation of the National Social Support Programme II (2018-2023) with mechanisms for scaling during disasters.

· Gender mainstreaming in all programs, projects and plans to achieve gender equality. Malawi has developed the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security making it the second country in Africa to do so.

· Setting up the National Children Commission to promote and protect the rights of children, especially the most vulnerable.

4.0 Progress on SDGs

Malawi is registering progress, albeit slow, on most of the SDGs. Without drastic and strategic interventions, Malawi is unlikely to meet thirteen of SDGs. At the current rate, Malawi is likely to meet SDGs 3, 6, 12, and 13. Of major concern is the slow progress on ending poverty in all its forms where the proportion of Malawians living below the national poverty line has marginally improved from 51.5% in 2016 to 50.7% in the current reporting period.

5.0 Means of implementation

Malawi has domesticated SDGs into the national development plans, the MW2063 and MIP-1 thus ensuring the SDGs are implemented at all levels and financed domestically. Establishment of PECGs has ensured that stakeholders including development partners, civil society organization, private sector institutions coordinate in financing and implementing SDGs.

6.0 Data management

Absence of statistics on key indicators and particularly gender disaggregation makes it hard to identify challenges in time and glosses over inequalities. Malawi is working to strengthen the National Statistical Systems to enhance data collection, analysis and monitoring.

8.0 Key challenges

· The recent spike in prices especially farm inputs poses clear danger reversing progress in food security and poverty reduction

· Corruption remains a key challenge compromise quality of public services delivery especially infrastructure development

· Natural disaster as manifested in the recent cyclones which are hitting Malawi increasing regularity and intensity poses major risk to national development.

· Prolonged COVID-19 has caused global and national economic slow-down and has reversed the progress that the country was making in the development space.

9.0 Way forward to accelerate SDG implementation

Despite Malawi making progress in implementing the SDGs, there are still room for improvement in some of the SDGs. Malawi is making efforts to accelerate implementation the SDG, by among others:

· Developed COVID-19 Socio-Economic Recovery Plan (SERP) which identifies key socioeconomic investments in select productive sectors to be front-loaded for Malawi to build back much faster from the effects of COVID-19.

· Improved financing mechanism for SDG implementation through the Joint SDG Fund. The Fund is a financing coordination mechanism where priorities are set and resources mobilized jointly by government, UN and development partners.

· Strengthen the data system for effective monitoring and evaluation to track progress for implementation of the SDGs

· Building institutional capacity for efficient delivery of service to the public and improved governance

Documents