Malawi strategic country gender assessment

This is a report of a strategic country gender assessment (SCGA) on Malawi. In 2001, the World Bank developed a country-wide gender strategy that called on all countries to undertake country gender assessments in recognition of the importance of gender in poverty reduction, economic growth and human well-being. The Malawi SCGA presents a unique case of collaboration amongst Malawi’s development partners. The World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have provided financial and technical assistance in the conceptualisation and implementation of the country assessment. While responding to the Bank and the UNDP’s priorities, the Malawi SCGA addresses key areas for intervention by the Malawi Government and the Development Assistance Group on Gender (DAGG). The SCGA therefore provides an opportunity for partnership amongst various players, new programme development, key messages to policy makers, as well as a chance to operationalise gender as a crosscutting issue.

The SCGA is aware that many good and innovative recommendations have been made in the past and that a considerable number of them have been implemented, despite the various shortcomings. The National Platform for Action and the National Gender Policy are acknowledged as critical entry points for overcoming gender disparities that could lead to sustainable development. In line with the thinking of these two policies, and taking into account priorities set out in Malawi's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, this SCGA recommends, as a matter of priority, interventions in four thematic areas - policy framework and institutional capacity, the economy, human capability and empowerment.