Government has expressed gratitude to the World Bank for its unwavering support in transforming the lives of ultra-poor populations in the country through various social protection programmes.
Minister of Gender, Mary Navicha, made the remarks at Pirimiti Makawa in Zomba City when she accompanied World Bank’s Practice Manager responsible for 14 countries in Southern and Eastern Africa, Loli Arribas-Banos, to appreciate the Social Support Livelihoods Resilience Project (SSRLP).
She noted that the SSRLP has been instrumental in improving resilience among the poor and vulnerable populations, with over 3.8 million Malawians benefiting from social cash transfers and other support programmes.
On her part, Loli Arribas-Banos, said the bank will continue to support Malawi’s efforts to improve livelihoods and build resilience.
She praised the SSRLP for its impact on poverty reduction and climate change interventions.
Arribas-Banos also highlighted Malawi’s social registry, a data platform for social protection programs, which is even being used as a model by Zambia.
The social support for SSRLP focuses on social cash transfers, livelihood support, and climate-smart public works, aimed at strengthening the national platform for safety nets. It is a seven-year project (2020- 2027) implemented by the government through the National Local Government Finance Committee with financial support from the World Bank and the Social Protection Multiple Donor Trust Fund at a total cost of $516 million.
