‘Development is a right for everyone to enjoy’ – Kathewera Banda

WOLREC Executive Director, Maggie Kathewera Banda, on November 21, joined the UN@80 Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.

Representing the Civil Society, the Executive Director participated in a panel discussion titled "Partnership for Malawi’s Future," where she spoke about the critical role civil society plays in ensuring marginalized groups are fully included in sustainable development efforts.

“Development is a right for everyone to enjoy, and everyone must take part in it. As CSOs we complement government efforts by raising awareness on sustainable development and engaging marginalized groups to understand their needs and ensure their challenges are addressed," she explained.

She further outlined WOLREC’s collaborative work with the government through the Women’s Manifesto Movement and various gender technical working groups.

“These partnerships aim to promote the inclusion of marginalized communities in national development processes and in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” she said.

On climate change, Kathewera Banda emphasized that CSOs can support marginalized communities by promoting resilient livelihoods, strengthening agricultural systems and advancing other climate-resilient solutions to help them cope with the evolving challenges.

The national dialogue brought together Government officials, development partners, civil society organizations, the private sector and young people to reflect on Malawi’s partnership with the United Nations and explore pathways toward a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable future.