The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Malawi has supported the National Statistical Office (NSO) with of K238,950,000 to be used towards the Malawi Demographic Health Survey (MDHS).
From the amount, UNFPA has purchased essential ICT equipment, which include laptops and mobile phones totaling MK61,950,000 to help in DHS data collection and analysis.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, UNFPA deputy representative in Malawi, Ezizgeldi Hellenov said the support underscores the fundamental importance of credible data in driving informed decision-making, policy formulation, and sustainable development
“Since we started working in Malawi, UNFPA has been steadfast in its commitment to bolstering the capacity of the NSO in generating reliable data. The cornerstone of our current support stems from the recent 2018 Population and Housing Census, where we initiated and managed a multi-donor trust fund, contributing significantly to the census budget alongside esteemed partners such as DFID/FCDO, GIZ, Iceland, Norway, UNDP, UN-Women, and private sector entities such as Standard Bank.
“Following the census, we have continued to collaborate with the NSO in various capacities. We have supported the development and dissemination of census reports, including thematic reports and district-level analyses. Moreover, our efforts have extended to the establishment of the Malawi Data Dissemination Platform, ensuring widespread access to vital census and other data.
“In line with NSO’s mandate as Malawi’s official custodian of statistics, our current support initiatives are diverse and expansive. We are actively engaged in facilitating collaboration between NSO, the National Registration Bureau, and stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health to enhance Civil Registration and Vital Statistics.
“UNFPA and NSO are jointly mobilising resources from development partners to support the upcoming MDHS, a critical endeavor in understanding the demographic and health landscape of Malawi,” he said
Additionally, Hellenov said UNFPA has in the past year, supported NSO to acquire new skills in the visualisation of census data and in the analysis of vital statistics based on civil registration through training in Kenya and Ghana and a learning visit to South Africa.
NSO director of demography and social statistics Tiope Mleme said the donation is a step towards achieving digital data collection and analysis.
“UNFA has been a reliable partner in our move to maintain digital relevance. This assistance will enable us achieve credible data collection as well as dissemination,” she said
