About 1,750 women and girls in traditional authorities Sitola and Mizinga in Machinga district are expected to benefit directly from a two-year project, dubbed Sustaining Community Women Movement for Peace Building and Humanitarian Response.
Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) is implementing the project with funding from Women’s Peace & Humanitarian Fund in partnership with UN Women.
Speaking on Tuesday following the approval of the project by Machinga District Executive Committee (DEC), Executive Director for YONECO, MacBain Mkandawire expressed excitement saying the project will create a conducive environment for everyone to enjoy their rights.
“We are also implementing this project in Phalombe, and the primary beneficiaries are women and girls,” Mkandawire said.
“We are looking at how the girls are going to build their skills into leadership positions so that they can participate in next year’s general elections.”
He also said the project seeks to prevent sexual and gender-based violence by promoting peaceful coexistence between men and women.
Machinga District Commissioner, Rodrick Mateauma described the project as a game-changer in improving the participation of women and girls in conflict prevention.
Mateauma said the project has come at the right time when the district continues to register high number of cases of gender-based violence, chieftaincy and marital disputes which also affect women and girls.
