Tuesday, September 26, 2023
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Business Business News

Poverty rate in marginal drop

by Eric Noel Mtemang’ombe
01/09/2023
in Business News, Front Page
3 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

Six in 10 Malawians live in dire poverty and are deprived of at least three basic necessities of life, a new report launched in Lilongwe yesterday shows.

The second edition of the Multidimensional Poverty Index jointly published by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs and the National Statistical Office (NSO) shows that 58.9 percent of Malawians live in multidimensional poverty, a marginal improvement from 61 percent recorded in the previous report in 2021.

This means that 59 percent of Malawians are deprived of the amenities and services required for a quality life such as health, education, a habitable environment and access to work, among others.

The report further shows that the incidence of poverty was higher in rural areas and female-headed households compared to urban areas and male-headed households.

Reads the report in part: “The incidence of multidimensional poverty was higher in female-headed households, with 71.4 percent and 53.9 percent, respectively.

Gwengwe: Report findings should inform policy makers

“According to the findings by place of residence, the incidence of multidimensional poverty was higher in rural areas [65.7 percent] than in urban areas [20 percent]. Similarly, the intensity in rural areas was 54.1 percent and 49.2 percent in urban areas.”

The report further observes that literacy and schooling at 14.7 percent, access to electricity at 11.5 percent, job diversity at 10.2 percent and asset ownership at 10.8 percent contributed the most to the levels of poverty.

Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the report’s launch, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) resident representative for Malawi Fenella Frost urged the government to use the report when planning national initiatives and interventions to redirect its efforts towards the problem areas.

He said: “We need to pay special attention to access to electricity. Many people in rural areas don’t have access to electricity.

“Not only does it affect the household, but it also affects the capacity to process and add value to agricultural products.”

Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Sosten Gwengwe said the report findings should inform policy makers and the government to plan how to respond to the challenges inherent in the economy.

He said: “The report should serve as a catalyst for a transformative era in the drive to reduce poverty and improve the living conditions of ordinary Malawians.

“It should guide the government, civil society and our development partners to develop strategies on how best we can address these incidences of poverty and deprivation.”

The report was developed with technical support from Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative and financial support from UNDP.

Previous Post

Ministry urges operators to promote domestic tourism

Next Post

ILO wants child labour eliminated in Mzimba

Related Posts

Kamanga: Investment is a challenging area
Business News

Financial analysts told to promote investment

September 26, 2023
Business News

Kwacha fall threatens Inflation outlook—EIU

September 26, 2023
Front Page

70 seats damaged at Bingu Stadium

September 26, 2023
Next Post

ILO wants child labour eliminated in Mzimba

Discussion about this post

Opinions and Columns

My Turn

Resolve DStv spat amicably

September 25, 2023
People’s Tribunal

Time for politicians to memorise the myth of Sisyphus

September 24, 2023
Big Man Wamkulu

I hear he is engaged to somebody

September 24, 2023
Musings on Corruption

Is ‘God-fearing’just a façade?

September 24, 2023

Trending Stories

  • Kept report under wraps: Chakwera

    Inside ‘hidden’ Reforms report

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Mysterious animal injures 9 people

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • RBM wants suspension of judgement in ICT deal

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Just kill me—cries Cashgate convict

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Strange illness scare forces school to close

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2023 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.