The United Nations in Malawi

United Nations contributes to the Government of Malawi’s development objective by supporting investment in Malawi’s primary asset, her people, and by strengthening the management and accountability systems that are needed to ensure that growth benefits every citizen, including women, children, the very poor and the most vulnerable.

The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2008 – 2011 is in response to the needs and priorities of Malawi and based on the objectives of the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS).

The five areas of priority or outcomes for the four-year programme plan are a) Sustainable Economic Development and Food Security b) Social Protection and Disaster Reduction c) Social Development relating to health, nutrition, water and sanitation and education d) HIV and AIDS and e) Good Governance.

Human development requires democratic participation, human rights and other forms of empowerment to avoid inequality in economic growth especially by marginalised or vulnerable groups. To achieve this, the priority areas are articulated around Gender, Human Rights, Disaster Risk Reduction and Capacity Development as cross cutting issues.

The priorities reflect areas of the UN’s skills and knowledge to support national ownership, coordination and alignment of assistance behind the MGDS, strengthening and greater use of national systems and results based management – measured by improvement in the wellbeing of every Malawian.

The UNDAF is also a means through which we can further the UN reform. Aligning the various UN agencies behind a single strategy will facilitate joint programming as well as improving efficiency through unified country level funding and joint monitoring and evaluation framework. The UNDAF is aligned behind national priorities, and will make the UN more effective as a development agency and in accordance with the principles of UN reform - “three ones”, One Programme, One Team, One Leader.

The UNDAF is integral to the UN Business Plan. The Plan includes programmatic items (UNDAF 2008 – 2011 and joint programme planning) and the UN Country Team’s plans in the operation and administration of the UN within the premise of UN Reform (UN common services, UN common premises, harmonisation and alignment activities).

UNITED NATIONS Coordination in MALAWI

The United Nations System in Malawi consists of seven resident agencies(FAO UNDP (including UN Volunteers), UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, WHO - and one specialized programme UNAIDS.The number of non-resident agencies, notably UN-HABITAT ILO, IFAD, UNEP, UNESCO, UNIDO and UNODC support activities in Malawi. The UNDP Resident Representative/Resident Coordinator represents some agencies, such as UNCDF and UN-HABITAT

UN Coordination in Malawi

The implementation on the UNDAF is coordinated and monitored by the UNDAF Joint Steering Committee and supported by UNDAF cluster leaders for each thematic area in the UNDAF. The UNDAF thematic areas have 16 country programme outcomes, which reflect the organisation of the MGDS.

The Joint UNDAF Steering Committee (JUSC) consists of Government, UNCG members, development partners and other stakeholders and is co-chaired by Government and the Resident Coordinator.

The five cluster leaders act on behalf of the Resident Coordinator and are:
Cluster 1: Economic growth and food security
Cluster leader: Head of FAO
Alternate cluster leader: Head of UNDP
Cluster 2: Social Protection and Disaster Risk Reduction
Cluster Leader: Head of WFP
Alternate cluster leader: Head of UNICEF
Cluster 3: Social Development
Cluster leader: Head of UNICEF
Alternate cluster leader: Head of WHO
Cluster 4: HIV and AIDS
Cluster leader: Head of UNAIDS
Alternate cluster leader: Head of WHO
Cluster 5: Governance
Cluster leader: Head of UNDP
Alternate cluster leader: Head of UNFPA

In addition, the four cross cutting areas have a focal point, on behalf of the UN Country Team. The role of the each of the focal points is to help ensure the cross cutting issues are mainstreamed in all outcomes.

Cross cutting area 1: Gender
Focal point: Head of UNFPA

Cross cutting area 2: Disaster Risk Reduction
Focal point: Head of UNDP

Cross cutting area 3: Human Rights
Focal point: Head of UNFPA

Cross cutting area 4: Capacity for implementation
Focal point: Head of UNDP