Malawi: Youth-Centric Policies for Future Prosperity

The document outlines a roadmap for Malawi's future prosperity by focusing on youth-centric policies. It advocates for the integration of youth voices in national planning, the creation of a transformative education investment plan, the incorporation of mental health services into primary healthcare, and a shift toward community-based disaster risk reduction. These recommendations stem from a participatory research project using foresight methodologies like Futures Literacy Labs and the Three Horizons Framework, highlighting the urgent need for resilience following events such as Cyclone Freddy.

• Malawi's economic growth has been hindered by governance issues and severe climate-related changes, with a per capita gross national income of $1,700 in 2022, ranking it among the lowest globally.
• The devastating impact of Cyclone Freddy, which displaced over 500,000 people, highlighted a critical need for Malawi to move from memory-based to evidence-based disaster risk assessments.
• The National Planning Commission and National Youth Council should ensure youth representation in national consultations, policy dialogues, and development planning to elevate youth voices in decision-making.
• The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is urged to develop 'issue constellations' frameworks to guide management toward a transformational education investment plan that prioritizes inclusivity for people with disabilities.
• To improve mental health access, the government should integrate screening, diagnosis, and treatment into primary healthcare and train personnel to provide basic psychosocial assistance.
• Malawi possesses significant potential for renewable energy generation, specifically through its abundant sunlight and water resources for solar and hydroelectric power.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2024). Malawi: Youth-Centric Policies for Future Prosperity. https://saiia.org.za/research/malawi-youth-centric-policies-for-future-prosperity/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Malawi: Youth-Centric Policies for Future Prosperity. 2024. https://saiia.org.za/research/malawi-youth-centric-policies-for-future-prosperity/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Malawi: Youth-Centric Policies for Future Prosperity |date=1 February 2024 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/malawi-youth-centric-policies-for-future-prosperity/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2024malawi, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Malawi: Youth-Centric Policies for Future Prosperity}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2024}, month = feb, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/malawi-youth-centric-policies-for-future-prosperity/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }