Former South African First Lady Graça Machel is in the country on a two-day visit to accelerate efforts to end child marriage and improve education of the girl child and nutrition outcomes.
Machel, who arrived in the country Thursday morning, is also expected to meet with Civil Society Networks, Government Ministers, Parliamentarians and Networks of African Business Women and Agribusiness.
In a statement, Nutrition Programme Manager, Graca Machel Trust, Rachel Toku-Appiah said Machel is visiting Malawi in her capacity as Founder and Chair of the Trust.
“Girls in Malawi have a number barriers to completing school and achieving success. One in two are married before they are 18, making them vulnerable to abuse and violence in the home.
“Mrs Machel will discuss with civil society and government how investing in girls education is a smart investment for the nation,” said Appiah in the statement.
Whilst great improvements have been seen in under-five child survival rates, Appiah said newborn deaths remain persistently high.
“Undernutrition and acute malnutrition are major concerns in the country with almost half of under five children being too short for their age (stunted),” added Appiah.
Partner organisations involved in the visit include Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, UNICEF Malawi, UN Women, World Food Programme-Wfp, Civil Society Nutrition Alliance-Csona, Network of African Business Women, Girls not Brides and Girls Education Network.
The Graça Machel Trust works across the continent to amplify women’s movements, influence governance, and advocate for the protection of children’s rights and dignity.
It consolidates the work of its founder and seeks to build on her legacy by inspiring the young generation to take up new challenges and create societies that value and care about social justice.
