Gender Ministry disseminates Male Engagement Strategy in Dowa

The Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare has begun district-level dissemination of the National Male Engagement Strategy (2023–2030) to promote the involvement of men and boys as agents of change in advancing gender equality.

Speaking during the dissemination meeting in Dowa, Principal Gender and Development Officer Japhet Chirwa said the strategy provides guidance for increasing male participation in preventing gender-based violence (GBV), reducing HIV infections, and promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

Chirwa said the strategy adopts community-led, gender-transformative and multi-sectoral approaches to influence positive behaviour among men and boys. He added that the ministry has so far disseminated the strategy to 23 district councils.

Dowa District Council Director of Planning and Development Phillimon Maseko commended the ministry for the initiative and called for more resources to support implementation at community level. He pledged the council’s commitment, alongside civil society organisations, to ensure the strategy is successfully implemented.

The dissemination was conducted in collaboration with the National AIDS Commission (NAC) with financial support from the Global Fund.