200 000 more to benefit from social protection
Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Jean Sendeza says government is working to increase the number of beneficiaries under the social protection programmes from the current 300 000 to 500 000.
Speaking on Friday when she officially launched the national social protection call centre in Lilongwe, the minister expressed concern that only 10 percent of the people that are supposed to benefit from the programmes are covered under social protection programmes.
Said Sendeza: “Under the Social Cash Transfer Programme there are about 300 000 beneficiaries, but now we want to increase the number to over 500 000.
“President Chakwera emphasised that he wants to see more people benefiting from the Social Cash Transfer Programme because there are more vulnerable people.”
She said expanding the programme is key to ensuring a self-reliant nation where people are economically empowered.
Sendeza called on chiefs and other community leaders to ensure that only deserving people are put under social protection programmes.
She lamented that sometimes people that do not deserve to be under the programmes benefit at the expense of vulnerable groups.
“President Lazarus Chakwera’s wish is to see that vulnerable groups are empowered and that they contribute to the development of the country. To achieve the Malawi 2063, we all need to take part in the development of the country,” said Sendeza.
European Union (EU) social sectors and infrastructure team leader Michelle Crimella emphasised that social protection is one of the powerful tools to adress poverty in the country.
He said the EU, which is investing 59 million euro in the programmes, is committed to continue supporting Malawi so that no one is left behind.
“We believe that through collaboration and shared commitment we can make tangible strides towards a more resilient, inclusive and equitable society,” said Crimella.
He hailed government for establishing the call centre, saying it will help remove some of the barriers that affect the programmes.
United Nations Children’s Fund deputy representative Gerrit Maritz commended government for coming up with the call centre, saying it shows government’s commitment to promote transparency and accountability in the social protection programmes.
The call centre is expected to handle queries from beneficiaries and other interested groups on social protection programmes.
