Malawi SDNP
Malawi Gender Policy
 
2.0 THE NATIONAL GENDER POLICY
The National Gender Policy is developed as an integral part of the national development objectives to enhance the overall government strategy of growth through poverty eradication. Gender being a crosscutting issues, the policy is developed along six thematic areas embracing the governments priority development concerns. It specifically covers the priority gender issues that must be mainstreamed in development policies and programmes. This is to address the existing gender imbalances for gender equality, sustained and sustainable socio-economic development. The policy development has been further guided by the gender equality related constitutional provisions and the global conferences and conventions where concrete strategies for action towards gender equity and equality have been spelled out and to which Malawi is a signatory.  The themes covered under the policy are:   
  •   Education and Training 
  •   Reproductive Health 
  •   Food and Nutrition Security 
  •   Natural Resources and Environmental Management 
  •   Governance and Human Rights 
  •   Poverty Eradication and Economic Empowerment 
 
2.1 THE NATIONAL GENDER MACHINERY
The National Gender Machinery which Is the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Community Services is mandated to spearhead the formulation, implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the gender policy. Additionally, it is to oversee the mainstrearning of gender in all development policies, programmes, projects and activities. Further, it is to provide technical backstopping services to all its stakeholders in gender 

'EACH INDIVIDUAL STAKEHOLDER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPONENT OF THE POLICY WHICH IS RELEVANT TO ITS SECTOR' 

In this connection therefore, each stakeholder will be responsible for the identification of a gender focal point in its organization. The Gender National Machinery will assist with the training of the focal points in gender analysis and mainstrearning. 

Due to the cross cutting nature of gender, information on the status of implementation will be shared through the Gender Policy implementation committee. 
 
2.2  IMPLEMENTATION STRUCTURE FOR THE GENDER POLICY 
The institutional structure for the Gender Policy comprises the following, At the top is the main cabinet whose role is to approve and pass policies and acts. It will also give direction on Gender Policy and programme implementation. 

 Below it is the Cabinet Committee on Gender, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.  Its role is to examine and review the Gender Policy, issues and legislations before they are presented to Cabinet and Parliament. It is also responsible for lobbying for the adoption of the gender policy resolutions, and Acts. 

 Linked to the Cabinet Committee will be the two Parliamentary Committees Parliamentary Women's Caucus and Parliamentary  Committee on Women and Children Affairs. Their major role is to lobby and advocate for gender issues in Parliament. 

 Below the Cabinet Committee on Gender, Youth and Persons with Disabilities will be the Gender Advisory Committee (GAC) comprising all Principal Secretaries. Its main role is to advise Cabinet Committee on Gender, Youth and Persons with Disabilities on what each of the Sectoral Ministries is doing on gender and will also provide advisory services to the national Gender machinery.  Each Principal Secretary will be responsible to advise his/her line Minister on gender mainstrearning in their own organization. 

 Below the National Machinery will be the Gender Policy Implementation Committee (GPIQ which comprises all gender focal points in all sectoral,,Ministries, NGOs, parastatals and the private sector.  The major roles of GPIC will be to identify priority gender issues, to plan for relevant interventions, assess and review progress in implementation of the policy. 

 To enhance implementation of the decentralization policy, the National Gender Policy, will use the existing institutions of District, Area and Village Assemblies.  In addition, gender networks in NGOs, Civil Service and the Private Sector have been or are being -established to share information and forge strategies for mainstreaming concerns in their respective development programmes. 
 
 
Malawi SDNP
Malawi Gender Policy