Malawi has joined other eastern and southern African countries to launch the demographic dividend survey whose outcome is expected to be integrated into the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS).
The development comes in the wake of Malawi being a signatory to the 2013 Addis Ababa declaration on population and development in Africa beyond 2014 under the theme Harnessing the Demographic Dividend: The Future We Want for Africa.
Speaking at the launch of the study, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) country representative Violet Kakyomya said the need for carrying out the study cannot be overemphasised as Malawi’s young population is growing at an alarming rate which may result into significant implications for the social-economic development of the country
She said: “It is important for Malawi to carry out the study as it will join a number of countries that have started reaping the demographic dividend, especially by putting in place the appropriate and context specific policies and investments.”
In his remarks, Secretary to the Treasury Ronald Mangani said the study is expected to review demographic and economic opportunities and challenges and asses their implication for attainment of the countries’ development aspiration, among other things.
According to Mangani, the study analysis will inform the formulation of the national development agenda such as the successor to MGDS II.
The Addis Ababa declaration recognises the role of population dynamics in socioeconomic transformation and seeks to unleash the full potential of the youth and women to boost social economic development.
