I welcome this momentous decision by Member States to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals which will guide development for the next fifteen years, offering a chance to meet the global citizenry's aspirations for a more peaceful and prosperous, and sustainable future.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with Ministry of Gender and Children Disability and Social Welfare on Friday, 25th November 2016 launched the 2016 African Human Development Report (AfHDR) entitled Accelerating Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Africa.

Volunteers in Malawi celebrated the 2016 International Volunteer Day (IVD) with a passionate call to applaud and recognise the incredible work volunteers do to create a better world for all. The 2016 IVD celebrations took place at the Children of the Nations (COTN), a non-profit organization that assists destitute children and orphans by providing clothing, food, education and other support on the outskirts of Lilongwe City. The theme of the celebration was; #GlobalApplause: Give Volunteers a Hand.

The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and the Malawi Prisons Service (MPS) on 3rd November 2016 jointly launched their five year strategic plans which have been aligned to the Democratic Governance Sector Strategy. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Honourable Samuel Tembenu, SC hailed the UNDP and European Union for supporting democratic governance activities of which the development of the strategic plan for the Ministry is part. “The alignment of these strategic plans constitutes a move by the Government and stakeholders to generate coordinated pathways to desired goals in the sector, in attempting to develop and strengthen the democratic governance sector,” said Honourable Tembenu, SC. At the launching ceremony.

Malawian women drawn from different parts and sectors of the country on 28th October 2016 converged at the Peace-building conference at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe where they formed the first ever National Women in Peace-Building Forum that will champion women’s equal and active participation in peacebuilding and peace processes in Malawi. The mandate of the National Women in Peace Building Forum is to mobilise a critical mass of women in Malawi to develop their capacity in order to participate actively in peace, security and humanitarian issues in the country

The Minister of Civic Education, Culture and Community Development, Honourable Patricia Kaliati has hailed a long standing development partnership between the Government of Malawi and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) dating back to 50 years ago. The Minister was speaking at the 50th Anniversary commemoration event held at Mitundu Primary School in Lilongwe under the theme; Consolidating Gains, Shaping the Future.

The Government of Malawi on the 7th of October launched the National Industrial Policy and the National Trade Policy with an aim to support the private sector in furthering economic development, generating employment and reducing poverty. The development and launch of the two policies have been supported by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

At the High-Level Event on Entry into Force of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, held on September 21, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon characterized climate change as the “defining issue of our generation”. It is clear that the international community shares his sense of urgency. Earlier this week, sixty countries formally joined the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, passing one of the two thresholds for the climate deal’s entry into force. These countries represent 48% of global greenhouse gas emissions, falling just short of the second threshold of 55%. With this hurdle surmounted, the UN is ever more confident that the Paris Agreement will enter into force this year, making what once seemed impossible now inevitable.

The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Honourable Atupele Muluzi has called for collective effort to manage urbanization in Malawi which rising faster than the pace of urban services and infrastructure development. The Minister told a cross section of representatives at the Habitat III Urban Breakfast in Lilongwe which was organized by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development with support from UN-Habitat and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The Urban Breakfast was held under the theme; Financing Urban Development in the Context of the New Urban Agenda.

Government through the Department of Nutrition in liaison with civil society organisations has developed a framework law, the Food and Nutrition Bill, which seeks to effectively guarantee the right to adequate food and nutrition. The Bill also is also providing for labelling and fortification of food; provision of nutrition in schools; the establishment of the National Nutrition Council and the Food and Nutrition Fund.

The Chief Secretary advised members of the DPC to adhere to the Code of Conduct which they have signed. Among other things, it calls for members to exercise impartiality, professionalism, integrity and independence in order to instill confidence in their community members.

The UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW have joined hands with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support the second round of competition of the Malawi Innovation Challenge Fund (MICF) for the Manufacturing and Logistics, and the Agribusiness Windows.

The Government of China has partnered with the Government of Malawi and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in supporting disaster risk management programmes through the launch of the Small Grant Scheme to community based organizations in disaster prone areas.

About 600 households from Msundu village in traditional authority Malanda in the northern district of Nkhatabay depend on the land along Katendeza river for farming. It is from this flat land that people from Msundu grow cassava, rice and maize crops for food and commercial purposes.

The Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development in collaboration with UNDP have launched the Malawi National Human Development Report (NHDR) with Members of Parliament (MPs). The official launch of the MNHDR whose theme is Inclusive Growth in Malawi took place at Parliament building in Lilongwe, presided over by the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Hon. Dr. Goodall Gondwe and attended by the Chairpersons of various Parliamentary Committees in the Malawi’s National Assembly.

With financial and technical support from the United Nations Development Programme and the European Union, Malawi has launched the first ever National Quality Strategy (NQS) with a call for an inclusive and immediate implementation of the strategy

Malawi launched the Buy Malawi Strategy (BMS) in a bid to promote locally produced goods and services. UNDP supported the development and launch of the strategy in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the private sector. UNDP Resident Representative in Malawi, Mia Seppo commended the Ministry for its leadership and commitment towards the formulation of the BMS, saying the strategy complements other important ongoing initiatives of the Government of Malawi aimed at advancing the industrialization agenda for Malawi.

On this day we celebrate the power of volunteerism. Volunteering fosters creativity, draws strength from our passions and connects us to those who need us most. Volunteerism is a global phenomenon that transcends boundaries, religions and cultural divides. Volunteers embody the fundamental values of commitment, inclusiveness, civic engagement and a sense of solidarity.