By Watipaso Mzungu, Contributor:
Over 90 percent of Malawians are in the dark about United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and what they aim to achieve, findings of a baseline study conducted in 10 districts indicate.
The study, which Eye for Development (EFD) commissioned was conducted in Balaka, Lilongwe, Rumphi, Dowa, Salima, Mulanje, Blantyre, Phalombe, Ntchisi and Nkhotakota districts and aimed to gauge citizens’ awareness of SDGs and the extent to which the government is implementing them.
EFD Executive Director, Edward Chileka- Banda, said Wednesday lack of knowledge on SDGs and development tools such as District Implementation Plans, Local Development Fund, District Development Fund could negatively affect project implementation.
“You are aware the Malawi Government signed SDGs in 2015. We are almost three years into the journey to 2030 when world leaders, including those from Malawi, want to eradicate poverty.
“However, it’s disappointing that over 90 percent of citizens in the 10 districts are not aware of the SDGs. We also found that, at the district council level, the SDGs are not domesticated. Now, if people, or citizens, are not aware of the SDGs or any other policy designed to improve the quality of their lives, it’s difficult for citizens to demand accountability from duty-bearers and also contribute effectively to the implementation and achievement of such policies,” he said.
Former Ministry of Education, Science and Technology principal secretary, Ken Ndala, recently challenged development partners to partner government in exploring specific areas of collaboration to accelerate the pace of development.
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