Malawi: Youth-Centric Policies for Future Prosperity

This policy brief, produced as part of the 'Youth and Social Justice Futures: Identifying Future Skills and Training in Africa' project, outlines strategic recommendations for Malawi to improve youth empowerment, education, mental health, and disaster resilience. The document is based on participatory action research using Futures Literacy Labs and the Three Horizons Framework, incorporating the perspectives of Malawian youth to envision inclusive and resilient future pathways.

• The document recommends that the National Planning Commission and the National Youth Council actively integrate youth voices into national planning and decision-making. This includes creating platforms for youth to voice concerns and ensuring their representation in national consultations and policy dialogues.
• To address a weak education system, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is urged to develop a strategic investment plan using 'constellation frameworks' to identify priority areas and avoid duplication. The goal is to create a community-driven system that prioritises inclusivity for people with disabilities and ensures equitable access regardless of gender or socioeconomic status.
• The brief calls for the integration of mental health services into primary healthcare systems. This involves developing guidelines for screening, diagnosis, and treatment, and training primary healthcare personnel to provide basic psychosocial assistance and referrals.
• Following the impact of Cyclone Freddy, which displaced over 500,000 people, the document emphasizes a shift from relief aid toward disaster risk reduction and community preparedness. It recommends strategic partnerships with experienced organisations and the decentralisation of disaster management responsibilities to the district level.
• Malawi's economic landscape is characterized by a primary reliance on agriculture, which contributes approximately one-third of the GDP and supports two-thirds of the population. The country faced a per capita gross national income of $1,700 in 2022 and a youth unemployment rate of 7.2%.
• The document identifies several systemic barriers to progress in Malawi, including a lack of digitalisation in government departments and the presence of discriminatory structures within law, politics, and society.

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} }