Across Malawi, efforts to expand employment opportunities and strengthen social protection are being implemented through a more integrated and coordinated approach. Supported by the Joint SDG Fund and the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, the Government of Malawi, together with the United Nations and development partners, is linking community-level initiatives, policy reform, and national coordination to deliver sustainable results for workers and communities.
In Nkhata Bay, youth-led initiatives are creating new pathways to livelihoods through the Wamaka Youth for Development Cooperative. Young people are transforming aquaculture into a viable economic activity, rehabilitating six fishponds, and receiving training in entrepreneurship, business management, financial literacy, and cooperative governance. Structured mentorship and support from certified Ministry of Youth officials ensure practical skills are applied effectively. Local traditional leaders provide land stewardship and mobilize community backing, anchoring the initiative within established governance structures and enabling participants to engage in fish production, processing, and local markets while developing transferable skills.
National coordination reinforces these local successes. In December 2025, Malawi convened the Second Global Accelerator High Impact Track Technical Committee Meeting in Lilongwe, bringing together government ministries, the United Nations, development partners, employers, workers’ organizations, civil society, and private sector representatives. After one year of implementation, the program had achieved approximately 75–80% of its annual targets. The meeting highlighted Malawi’s strong national ownership as a Global Accelerator Pathfinder Country, with ministries driving coordination and accountability, and partners reaffirming their commitment to advancing job creation, skills development, and social protection.
At the policy level, Malawi is advancing reforms to strengthen workers’ protection through revisions to the Workers’ Compensation Act of 2000. A tripartite technical session in Salima, involving government, employers, workers’ representatives, legal experts, and social protection specialists, is updating the law to align with international standards and the country’s social protection policy. The reforms introduce a pooled social insurance model to address long-standing challenges, including delayed compensation and inadequate benefits. A revised draft Workers’ Compensation Bill has been prepared for submission to the Ministry of Justice, marking a critical step toward a more predictable, equitable, and sustainable system that safeguards workers while supporting productivity.
