YONECO hosted the Director General of the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) during an official visit to review progress on the Malawi Drought Response ECHO Project.
The visit, held at YONECO’s Head Office in Zomba, brought together key stakeholders involved in the humanitarian response and accountability efforts. The Director General was welcomed by YONECO’s Executive Director, MacBain Mkandawire, before embarking on a guided tour of the organisation’s facilities that support Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP).
Among the key sites visited was the Tithandizane Toll-Free Helpline, a platform that enables community members to report pressing issues such as missed Social Cash Transfer payments. The delegation also toured the ICT Department, which demonstrated YONECO’s Complaints and Feedback Mechanism (CFM), a tool designed to ensure transparency and responsiveness in humanitarian service delivery.
The final stop was at YFM Radio Station, YONECO’s in-house broadcasting platform that plays a critical role in raising public awareness and amplifying the voices of communities affected by humanitarian crises.
Speaking after the tour, the Director General of ECHO commended YONECO for its innovative and community-centred approach to humanitarian response. He specifically praised the organization’s effective use of technology and media to promote transparency, accountability, and civic engagement.
“This model of combining direct communication platforms with structured feedback systems is vital in ensuring that affected populations are not just recipients of aid, but active participants in shaping the response,” the DG noted.
YONECO’s Executive Director echoed the sentiment, adding that the organization remains committed to creating inclusive platforms that protect and empower vulnerable populations across Malawi.
