The World Bank has expressed optimism that the support it has rendered to Malawi’s education and social sectors will help plug the gaps created by the existing economic slowdown.
The sentiments come after the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs announced an upwards adjustment in funding to key social sectors.
In an e-mailed response, World Bank country manager Firas Raad said he was confident that the support to the Malawi Government can complement efforts to bolster human capital development.
He referenced the Emergency Project to Protect Essential Health Services worth about $100 million (about K175 billion), which he said helped provide immediate financial resources and medicines to maintain essential health services.
Raad further noted that flagship education projects, namely Equity with Quality and Learning at Secondary Project, the Malawi Education Reform Project, and Investing in Early Years, support access and quality improvements from early childhood development to higher education.
He said: “The new Digital Malawi Acceleration Project plans to support efforts to connect 2 000 secondary schools throughout the country to digital services.
“The Skills for a Vibrant Economy project is supporting Malawi to increase access, particularly for females, to labor market-relevant skills development programmes, in participating institutions, targeting priority areas of the economy.”
In an earlier interview, Economics Association of Malawi president Bertha Bangara-Chikadza said increased funding and support could enhance access to quality services.
