By Jarson Malowa:
Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Minister, Mary Navicha, has warned district councils in country to guard against abuse of funds meant for the social cash transfer initiative.
Navicha was speaking on the sidelines of a tour which the European Union, Germany and Irish ambassadors embarked on in Balaka and Zomba on Wednesday and Thursday.
“I would like to advise all the officers working in district councils in the country to use funds meant the social cash transfer properly.
“From now onwards, I will not tolerate anything or anyone tampering with funds meant for social cash transfer programme, which is key to our goal of reducing poverty and economically empowering marginalised groups,” she said.
Meanwhile, European Union Ambassador to Malawi, Sandra Paesen, has said she is satisfied with the use of funds the bloc provides to the country.
“The social cash transfer is a programme that is turning into a model for other nations because, here in Malawi, it has become one of the effective ways of fighting poverty.
“You may see that, with a very small amount of money, communities are able to send children to school and feed themselves,” Paesen said.
Irish Ambassador to Malawi, Gerry Cunningham, said he was satisfied with progress registered in the project.
“We have been having a combined district response in coordinating this project, which makes us feel proud,” he said.
Ambassador of Germany to Malawi, Jurgen Borsch, said the initiative could go a long way in divorcing the country from poverty.
The €50 million Social Support for Resilience Project, under which the social cash transfer project falls, was rolled out in 2018 and is set to run up to 2021.
The project is being funded by European Development Fund with support from the United Kingdom, Germany and Ireland.
A vibrant writer who gives a great insight on hot topics and issues