By Robert Nayeja

Nsanje, January 29, Mana: An economic expert in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Elisha Limbe, has expressed optimism that the National Social Protection Policy will help limit duplication and reduce other challenges social protection programmes are facing in the country.

He was speaking Tuesday in Nsanje during the review of social protection programmes in the district.

Limbe said the new policy will eradicate duplication in the implementation of social protection programmes on top of enhancing collaboration among implementing stakeholders.

“The policy will bring sanity in social protection programmes as it brings all programmes under one roof and incorporate both social support and protection,” he said.

He said the new National Social Protection Policy has been approved by the cabinet, adding that it will soon be launched.

“This policy has incorporated all groups of people and this is in line with Malawi 2063 which says; leaving no one behind,” he said.

The economist described the review meeting as a milestone in the implementation of social protection programmes.

“This is the time when stakeholders share experiences and discuss ways and means of addressing bottlenecks,“ he said.

District Community Development Officer for Nsanje, Patrick Sipuni, said the review meeting will strengthen collaboration among stakeholders implementing social protection programmess in the district.

He said social protection programmes will help reduce poverty among people in the district.

The social protection annual review meeting was one of the activities funded by European Union through UNICEF under the SP GEAR project.