Parliamentary Cluster Worried Over Decrease in Funding for Social Protection Programme

By Dean Chisambo…….

The Parliamentary Cluster on Social and Community Affairs and Local Authorities has expressed concern over the decreasing funding for social protection programmes in the country.

Cluster chairperson Savel Kafwafwa raised the concerns on Monday in Lilongwe during the presentation of key findings from the 2016–2027 Child-Friendly Budget Analysis to various stakeholders.

Kafwafwa said several billions of kwacha have been removed from the funding, representing almost a 30 percent reduction, translating to over K70 billion previously supported by the donor community.

He noted that the Malawi Government has largely relied on donors to fund social protection programmes, a situation he described as worrying, although government has increased its contribution from K4.4 billion to K7 billion from taxpayers’ money.

“We are worried that if donors continue pulling out of programmes such as Ntukula Pakhomo and others, the nation will suffer greatly. Government has to put in place measures to ensure that these important programmes are sustained,” said Kafwafwa.

He emphasized that social protection programmes must be safeguarded as they support vulnerable and marginalized populations in society.

Kafwafwa further urged government to invest in Agriculture, Tourism, Mining and Manufacturing (ATMM) to boost production and increase domestic resources that can support social protection programmes.

The cluster chairperson also revealed that the committee is proposing that 10 percent of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) be invested in children’s activities such as Early Childhood Development (ECD) and other child protection initiatives.

Meanwhile, UNICEF Chief of Social Policy Mathew Tasker said the organisation, together with its partners, is advocating for the government to increase domestic revenue allocation towards social protection programmes.

“Injecting financing into this sector is really needed. There is some positive momentum as government has increased the budget from K4.4 billion last year to K7 billion in this year’s budget,” said Tasker.

National Children’s Commission Commissioner Benedicto Kondowe stressed the need for more investment in child protection to address issues such as child labour, early marriages and human capital development.

“We still expect government to protect resources for child protection programmes, end child marriages, protect children from harm in communities and strengthen community structures that safeguard children,” said Kondowe.

On his part, NGO Coalition on Child Rights Malawi National Coordinator Henry Machemba urged government to allocate more resources towards child participation and protection, particularly for children with disabilities.

According to stakeholders, the international donor community has reduced funding for social protection programmes in Malawi from K217 billion to K123 billion.