By Mary Makhiringa

Balaka, February 6, Mana: World Bank, Program Leader for Human Development in East Africa, Aneesa Arur, on Monday reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to continue supporting Malawi Government to achieve its development goals.

Arur made the remarks in Balaka during her official visit to Nanjiri catchment where she appreciated a number of environmental restoration activities supported by World Bank and implemented by Balaka District Council.

She said World Bank sees Malawi as a very important partner on issues of climate and economic shocks.

She said such issue are critical to the partnership and needs to be strengthened further.

 “We are extremely committed to supporting the Government of Malawi and the most vulnerable people by building their resilience and allowing them to build their human capital. One priority, going forward, will be to continue building adaptive social protection in Malawi.

“With what I have seen, I am sure that communities will bounce back faster from shocks so that it does not erode their livelihoods and by continuing to make progress towards prosperity reducing poverty and preserving our planet,” she said.

Arur acknowledged impact of climate change on livelihood and appreciated activities implemented under Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programmes (CS-EPWP) in Balaka.

She was encouraged having seen the far reaching impact of the Climate Smart Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) and the impact it has brought on the lives of the communities, on agriculture as well as the future of the children.

“Above all, the biggest impression I have is the spirit of dynamism among all people in Malawi; they are able to see these opportunities, use the money they receive wisely on their children’s education and nutrition as well as use the income they have to build their own businesses and grow the prosperity of their families,” she added.

Meanwhile, Arur has disclosed that plans are already advanced to increase wages of participants of the Social Support for Resilience Programme to meet the current economic hardships in Malawi.

Poverty Reduction and Social Protection Director in the Ministry of Finance, Kettie Longwe, said that wedges are currently under scrutiny so that they are revised further.

“Currently, we have just revised the transfer levels for the Social Cash Transfer Programme beneficiaries, and we already recommended on the revision of wedges for CS-EPWP and soon it will be announced at the higher steering committee to meet this month,” she said.

Balaka District Council Chairperson, Osman Mapira, thanked World Bank for the support it gives to councils in the country saying World Bank funded programmes help people improve livelihoods.

 “Balaka is one dry area; the program is helping harvesting rain water which is increasing agricultural yield to people. Our youth are also being trained in various vocational skills through COMSIP, which is economically helping them,” he said.

In Balaka, 18,200 households are participating in the CS-EPWP by working in 18 micro catchments.