Ministry sounds alarm on rising poverty among women and girls in Malawi

The Ministry of Gender, Community Development, and Social Welfare has expressed concern over the rising poverty and inequality among women and girls in the country.

Principal Secretary for the ministry, Nertha Semphere Mgala, raised the alarm during a media orientation on Government Social Protection programs scrutiny, on Thursday, in Blantyre.

“National statistics indicate that women head over 75 percent of households living in poverty, and nearly 42 percent of girls in the country experience violence before the age of 18,” Mgala said.

“The media is crucial in enhancing the visibility of social protection programs, thereby securing more funding and support from our development partners,” she emphasized.

With support from the European Union and the Government of Ireland through Unicef, the ministry is implementing the Social Protection Gender Empowerment and Resilience project to address the socioeconomic challenges faced by girls and women.

Unicef Social Policy specialist Montsercat Penjuan also underscored the importance of the media in development programs.

The orientation convened journalists from the southern region.