Government Positions Youth as Catalyst for Malawi’s Economic Recovery

The Government of Malawi has reaffirmed its commitment to placing the youth at the heart of the nation’s economic recovery, citing young people as the primary drivers of national development.

During a Youth Pre-Budget Consultation, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, and Decentralization, Honourable Joseph Mathyola Mwananvekha, emphasized that the engagement aims to integrate youth perspectives directly into national priorities and fiscal planning.

“With youth comprising over 65 percent of our population, inclusive economic growth is unattainable without their empowerment,” Mwananvekha stated. He noted that these efforts align with the Malawi 2063 vision and the National Youth Policy.

As part of the 2025/26 Mid-Year Budget Review, the Minister confirmed the revival of key projects, including:

Education & Skills: Revitalizing Community Technical Colleges.
Financing: Restoring the Youth Enterprise Development Fund.
Infrastructure: Developing youth centers and sports facilities.
Constituency Funding: Allocating MWK 100 million per constituency for youth economic activities and MWK 50 million for grassroots sports.

Despite challenges such as inflation and a 21.6 percent youth unemployment rate, Mwananvekha noted that macroeconomic fundamentals are stabilizing under the leadership of President Arthur Peter Mutharika. He concluded by urging the youth to engage in skill development and provide proactive input for the upcoming 2026/27 National Budget.

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