By Burnett Munthali
Acting Director for Child Affairs in the Ministry of Gender, Community Development, and Social Welfare, Justin Hamera, has urged stakeholders and partners to strengthen collaboration with the National Children’s Commission (NCC) in addressing the need for increased financial resources and improved services for children in Malawi. He made this call during a meeting organized by the ministry, which brought together NCC commissioners and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for enhancing support for children’s welfare.
Hamera emphasized that the ministry’s primary objective is to hold various partners accountable for providing financial support to children. He highlighted that the establishment of the Children’s Commission acknowledges the multiple challenges children face in Malawi and seeks to address the critical gaps in services and resources available to them.
“Children are at the heart of our future development, and we must work together to ensure they receive the care, protection, and resources they deserve,” Hamera said, stressing the importance of collective responsibility in ensuring the success of the commission’s work.
Julia Chimuna, one of the commissioners of the NCC, noted that the commission will require 3 billion kwacha to establish itself and fulfill its mandate effectively. She underscored that this funding is critical to improving the lives of children across the country, as the commission will be tasked with overseeing service delivery and advocating for children’s rights.
In the coming six months, the NCC plans to develop regulations for the children’s services sector and establish monitoring standards to ensure that operations across the country are consistent and meet the needs of Malawian children.
The Ministry of Gender and the NCC expressed optimism that through enhanced collaboration and financial support, the country can make significant strides in ensuring the well-being of its children.
