About 1,750 women and girls in the areas of Traditional Authority (T/A) Sitola and Mizinga in Machinga district are expected to benefit directly from a two-year project titled Sustaining Community Women Movement for Peace Building and Humanitarian Response.
YONECO is implementing the project with funding from 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. 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,” Mkandawire said.
He also said the project seeks to prevent sexual and gender-based violence by promoting peaceful coexistence between men and women.
In his remarks, 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 chieftaincy and marital disputes which also affect women and girls.
YONECO is implementing the project in the areas of Traditional Authority (TA) Mizinga and Sitola in Machinga as well as Kaduya and Mkumba Phalombe districts. The project, which is being funded by UN Women, aims to enhance the participation of women in conflict prevention responses.
