If Malawi is to speed up its integration into the global village, then it must develop more aggressive policies on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), an expert has said.
The expert, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, chief executive officer of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO), was speaking after a meeting with senior staff of the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) on Tuesday.
"We live in knowledge era and ICTs are the order of the day. Malawi and indeed Africa missed out on Agricultural and Industrial revolutions, we must try by all means not to miss out on the Information revolution," said Spio-Garbrah.
He added: "There have been improvements in ICT growth across Africa but, unfortunately, it has only been in mobile communication which has about 20 per cent penetration. Unfortunately though, 95 per cent of Africa is yet to receive or send an e-mail."
The CTO chief also said that there was significant representation of Africa at strategic bodies such as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and CTO which Africa, and Malawi in particular, should take advantage of while it lasts.
"If we do not take advantage of the African presence at the ITU and CTO to advance continental, regional and national ICT objectives, we?re never going to get such an opportunity again," he said, noting that countries that are showing significant growth in Africa are those that are heavily investing in technology.
Spio-Garbrah also encouraged Malawians to be innovative in developing their own ICTs as a means of speeding the process of bridging the digital gap that exists between Africa and the West.
"For long, we've relied on other people?s products, it?s time we see innovative use and production of Africa-specific ICTs so as to speed up our development. There are lots of opportunities waiting to be unveiled," he said.
E-commerce, Spio-Garbrah enthused, could help in the marketing of Malawian products to foreign markets at the click of a mouse and e-governance could help in easing, for example, congestions at several government departments, especially those that deal directly with the public.
He also encouraged Malawians to learn from Uganda, South Africa, Botswana, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya in fields such as rural connectivity, convergence laws and new generation networks and regulating competition among others.
"But all this," he impressed, "requires aggressive policies and a keen interest in influencing capacity building and encouraging knowledge acquisition by making ICTs a mantra for development."
Friday, 31 August 2007
Helping Small-Scale Farmers Go Commercial
A joint project by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Malawian government is helping small-scale farmers to expand into commercial food production.
Initially, 50 "lead farmers" from around the country will receive training in business management skills and planning. "The project intends to equip farmers with knowledge that would enable them to take farming as business," said Mazlan Jusoh, the FAO's country representative in Malawi.
Around 80 percent of the country's workforce are subsistence farmers who grow maize and vegetables, while the commercial farming sector comprises the large tobacco farms in the south, which account for a large chunk of Malawi's export earnings.
In a country where more than 70 percent of the population lives on less than US$2 a day, and food production has been affected by recurring drought, the project intends to enhance food security and develop sustainable livelihoods.
Jeff Luhanga, controller of agricultural extension and technical services in Malawi's ministry of agriculture and food security, said the project created the opportunity for farmers to know how much they would produce beforehand, and to plan well in advance.
"In general, our farmers already have the skills to produce good farm produce, but now all they need is the gross margin of every farming business they might wish to venture into, so that they can make informed choices," Luhanga said.
Formation of cooperatives
Government also plans to open cooperative schools under the guidance of the University of Malawi to further help farmers cart home greater profits from their enterprise. Luhanga said in cooperatives farmers would have the chance to speak with one voice and negotiate for better prices for their produce - maize, tobacco, paprika, or whatever they were growing.
Sydney Mzunga, a small-scale farmer in the commercial capital, Blantyre, said government should offer better incentives for crops like maize and beans, which were grown by almost every farming household.
"We grow a lot of maize in this country, largely for consumption locally. If government offered us better prices we would increase production and in turn support our families in various ways. Our colleagues in the tobacco industry are smiling," he said.
Malawi has enjoyed a record maize harvest for the past two growing seasons, with a surplus of about 1.3 million metric tonnes in this year alone.
The copious yield is the result of a special emphasis on food security and development: for the past three years Malawi has implemented a fertiliser subsidy programme that allowed local farmers to buy fertiliser at cheaper prices.
Initially, 50 "lead farmers" from around the country will receive training in business management skills and planning. "The project intends to equip farmers with knowledge that would enable them to take farming as business," said Mazlan Jusoh, the FAO's country representative in Malawi.
Around 80 percent of the country's workforce are subsistence farmers who grow maize and vegetables, while the commercial farming sector comprises the large tobacco farms in the south, which account for a large chunk of Malawi's export earnings.
In a country where more than 70 percent of the population lives on less than US$2 a day, and food production has been affected by recurring drought, the project intends to enhance food security and develop sustainable livelihoods.
Jeff Luhanga, controller of agricultural extension and technical services in Malawi's ministry of agriculture and food security, said the project created the opportunity for farmers to know how much they would produce beforehand, and to plan well in advance.
"In general, our farmers already have the skills to produce good farm produce, but now all they need is the gross margin of every farming business they might wish to venture into, so that they can make informed choices," Luhanga said.
Formation of cooperatives
Government also plans to open cooperative schools under the guidance of the University of Malawi to further help farmers cart home greater profits from their enterprise. Luhanga said in cooperatives farmers would have the chance to speak with one voice and negotiate for better prices for their produce - maize, tobacco, paprika, or whatever they were growing.
Sydney Mzunga, a small-scale farmer in the commercial capital, Blantyre, said government should offer better incentives for crops like maize and beans, which were grown by almost every farming household.
"We grow a lot of maize in this country, largely for consumption locally. If government offered us better prices we would increase production and in turn support our families in various ways. Our colleagues in the tobacco industry are smiling," he said.
Malawi has enjoyed a record maize harvest for the past two growing seasons, with a surplus of about 1.3 million metric tonnes in this year alone.
The copious yield is the result of a special emphasis on food security and development: for the past three years Malawi has implemented a fertiliser subsidy programme that allowed local farmers to buy fertiliser at cheaper prices.
WFP eyes Zambia, Mozambique as food sources
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is increasingly turning to countries outside major food producer South Africa in search of cheaper sources of food, a spokesman said on Thursday.
The food agency this year again spent record amounts of money on the staple maize and other crops in Malawi and Mozambique, WFP spokesman Richard Lee said. Spending in Zambia is also nearing record levels.
The WFP buys the bulk of its regional supplies from South Africa, the biggest producer of wheat and maize in southern Africa.
But over the past several years it has tried to support domestic agriculture elsewhere, Lee said. A poor maize crop in South Africa has also made the country's maize more expensive.
Analysts also say these countries could soon compete with South Africa for a share of its maize market as their governments boost farming support in order to lift agricultural production.
"We've already spent more money in Malawi and Mozambique this year than ever before. We're approaching record levels in Zambia," Lee said.
In 2002, when a food crisis prompted the WFP to scale up its operations in the region, it bought 6,500 tonnes of maize from Malawi. So far this year, purchases from that country stand at 78,000 tonnes -- nearly double last year.
Over the same period, purchases from Zambia have grown to 58,000 from 12,000 tonnes and to 38,000 tonnes from 13,000 in Mozambique.
In the year to date, the U.N. body has bought about 82 percent of the 270,000 tonnes of food required for 2007, Lee said.
"It's predominantly due to price that we're not buying in South Africa. But also the WFP is very keen, where possible, to buy locally," Lee said.
"Obviously, (buying locally) can speed up the process and we want to benefit local industries and small-scale farmers."
He said this included mostly maize but also other cereals.
For the second year in a row, drought has slashed production of the maize crop in South Africa, pushing up prices of the main harvest. At the same time, the price of wheat, the other widely consumed cereal, has vaulted on global supply fears.
South Africa's most-traded December white maize contract closed at 1,858.8 rand a tonne. That compares with about $230 in Mozambique, $190 in Malawi and $245 in Zambia, one trader at a domestic bank said.
The food agency this year again spent record amounts of money on the staple maize and other crops in Malawi and Mozambique, WFP spokesman Richard Lee said. Spending in Zambia is also nearing record levels.
The WFP buys the bulk of its regional supplies from South Africa, the biggest producer of wheat and maize in southern Africa.
But over the past several years it has tried to support domestic agriculture elsewhere, Lee said. A poor maize crop in South Africa has also made the country's maize more expensive.
Analysts also say these countries could soon compete with South Africa for a share of its maize market as their governments boost farming support in order to lift agricultural production.
"We've already spent more money in Malawi and Mozambique this year than ever before. We're approaching record levels in Zambia," Lee said.
In 2002, when a food crisis prompted the WFP to scale up its operations in the region, it bought 6,500 tonnes of maize from Malawi. So far this year, purchases from that country stand at 78,000 tonnes -- nearly double last year.
Over the same period, purchases from Zambia have grown to 58,000 from 12,000 tonnes and to 38,000 tonnes from 13,000 in Mozambique.
In the year to date, the U.N. body has bought about 82 percent of the 270,000 tonnes of food required for 2007, Lee said.
"It's predominantly due to price that we're not buying in South Africa. But also the WFP is very keen, where possible, to buy locally," Lee said.
"Obviously, (buying locally) can speed up the process and we want to benefit local industries and small-scale farmers."
He said this included mostly maize but also other cereals.
For the second year in a row, drought has slashed production of the maize crop in South Africa, pushing up prices of the main harvest. At the same time, the price of wheat, the other widely consumed cereal, has vaulted on global supply fears.
South Africa's most-traded December white maize contract closed at 1,858.8 rand a tonne. That compares with about $230 in Mozambique, $190 in Malawi and $245 in Zambia, one trader at a domestic bank said.
UNIMA to introduce e-learning
The rising uptake of internet technologies in Malawi has prompted the University of Malawi (UNIMA) to strategise on the introduction of electronic learning (e-learning) in all its five constituent colleges so that students can attend virtual classes.
Collaboration between public and private partnerships are bringing e-learning to thousands of poverty stricken Africans who cannot access traditional education, political conflict, lack of teachers and infrastructure.
UMIMA lecturers are brainstormed at the Chancellor College in Zomba under the facilitation of Professor Harold Holt from the United Nations Universities (UNU) headquarters in Norway who said e-Learning is a process whereby students pursue various specialised courses through the Internet.
According to ‘The Promise of E-Learning in Africa: The Potential for Public-Private Partnerships’ report by the IBM Endowment for the Business of Government - a unit of IBM Corp. of Armonk, New York, USA - concluded that e-learning offers a flexible and cost-effective way to span Africa’s rural distances and make alternatives to regular classroom settings available through such technologies as satellite downlinks, interactive television, videoconferencing and virtual educational networks.
Prof. Holt revealed that UNIMA upon its acceptance to the UNU membership having signed the charter will access the state of the art e-learning platform.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Malawi, Professor Leonard Kamwanja expressed hope that once introduced, e-learning will enable aspiring students to pursue further studies in a number of specialised fields and relieve current pressures felt by UNIMA like bed space.
“About 50,000 students complete their secondary school education annually, but only about 4,000 are called for university entrance exams, of which only 18 percent of the eligible candidates are admitted,” Prof. Kamwanja explained.
According to Dr. Emanuel Fabiano - Principal for Chancellor College - his institution plans to procure more computers to improve networking and learning among the university community through the Internet saying the move will enable the college to run online learning with no or limited hassles.
Southern Africa Regional Director for Learning for Environment and Development (LEAD), Professor Sosten Chiotha reminded the participants that knowledge was the basis for any meaningful development and financial resources must not be a limiting factor to the introduction of the e-learning at UNIMA.
“In education, financial inputs should not be a worry. What should be considered are the positive impacts that the elites bring to the entire society,” Prof Chiotha advised.
UNU is a "virtual university" sponsored by the World Bank which uses satellite and computer technologies, Internet access and an online digital library of over 1,000 full-text journals to deliver academic courses to students in 15 sub-Saharan African countries. By the end of a pilot phase in early 2000, more than 12,000 students had completed semester-long courses in engineering and the sciences through the university.
Introducing e-learning technologies in Africa presents many challenges but public and private partnerships are creating an increasing number of success stories there.
Collaboration between public and private partnerships are bringing e-learning to thousands of poverty stricken Africans who cannot access traditional education, political conflict, lack of teachers and infrastructure.
UMIMA lecturers are brainstormed at the Chancellor College in Zomba under the facilitation of Professor Harold Holt from the United Nations Universities (UNU) headquarters in Norway who said e-Learning is a process whereby students pursue various specialised courses through the Internet.
According to ‘The Promise of E-Learning in Africa: The Potential for Public-Private Partnerships’ report by the IBM Endowment for the Business of Government - a unit of IBM Corp. of Armonk, New York, USA - concluded that e-learning offers a flexible and cost-effective way to span Africa’s rural distances and make alternatives to regular classroom settings available through such technologies as satellite downlinks, interactive television, videoconferencing and virtual educational networks.
Prof. Holt revealed that UNIMA upon its acceptance to the UNU membership having signed the charter will access the state of the art e-learning platform.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Malawi, Professor Leonard Kamwanja expressed hope that once introduced, e-learning will enable aspiring students to pursue further studies in a number of specialised fields and relieve current pressures felt by UNIMA like bed space.
“About 50,000 students complete their secondary school education annually, but only about 4,000 are called for university entrance exams, of which only 18 percent of the eligible candidates are admitted,” Prof. Kamwanja explained.
According to Dr. Emanuel Fabiano - Principal for Chancellor College - his institution plans to procure more computers to improve networking and learning among the university community through the Internet saying the move will enable the college to run online learning with no or limited hassles.
Southern Africa Regional Director for Learning for Environment and Development (LEAD), Professor Sosten Chiotha reminded the participants that knowledge was the basis for any meaningful development and financial resources must not be a limiting factor to the introduction of the e-learning at UNIMA.
“In education, financial inputs should not be a worry. What should be considered are the positive impacts that the elites bring to the entire society,” Prof Chiotha advised.
UNU is a "virtual university" sponsored by the World Bank which uses satellite and computer technologies, Internet access and an online digital library of over 1,000 full-text journals to deliver academic courses to students in 15 sub-Saharan African countries. By the end of a pilot phase in early 2000, more than 12,000 students had completed semester-long courses in engineering and the sciences through the university.
Introducing e-learning technologies in Africa presents many challenges but public and private partnerships are creating an increasing number of success stories there.
Ntaba is fired!
Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika has fired his Chief Political Advisor Dr Hetherwick Ntaba withdrawing his official car and other benefits for suggesting that the widowed president to marry in order to gain moral respect among Malawians, sources at the State House have revealed.
Sources have told Nyasa Times that the Democratic Progressive Party Secretary General made the suggestion after observing on numerous occasions the ever rising “chemistry” between the president and the Health Minister Marjorie Ngaunje – a widow.
Mutharika has barred Ntaba from seeing him without appointments and all transactions are going through the State House Chief of Staff Charles Namondwe, a president’s nephew.
“Following his marriage suggestion, the door has been slammed in his face and any meetings from are by appointments through the Namondwe,” said the source.
Francis Mphepo, a political advisor to the president has taken over Ntaba’s role.
But Ntaba, dubbed “talking computer” by the British Broadcasting Corporation when he was the Malawi Congress Party Publicity Secretary during Hastings Banda’s dictatorship era denies that he has been booted out of office.
“I have not been kicked out of office…I am still in the job with my office in Europa House in Lilongwe City Centre and my DPP Secretary General office in Area 12.
“In fact I find this ludicrous and nonsensical,” said Ntaba. But DPP insiders have revealed that Ntaba has lost the trust of the president and party executive members singling him as a breed of squabbles within the party.
Henry Chimunthu Banda, DPP First Vice President and Minister of Energy and Mining will take over the role of Secretary General - in an acting capacity - as soon as parliament rises.
“He made the remark that angered the president and the whole executive committee finds his advice ill conceived and ill timed particularly when the president is still mourning the death of his wife, the First Lady.
“This is not the right time for him to consider marriage,” said the DPP supremo who sought not to be named.
State House Press officer could not be reached for a comment as his phone went unanswered.
Ntaba recently came under heavy attack from Mutharika’s children for revealing the exact nature of illness that killed Madame Ethel Mutharika. He was reported to have been kicked and slapped by the drunken children.
Sources have told Nyasa Times that the Democratic Progressive Party Secretary General made the suggestion after observing on numerous occasions the ever rising “chemistry” between the president and the Health Minister Marjorie Ngaunje – a widow.
Mutharika has barred Ntaba from seeing him without appointments and all transactions are going through the State House Chief of Staff Charles Namondwe, a president’s nephew.
“Following his marriage suggestion, the door has been slammed in his face and any meetings from are by appointments through the Namondwe,” said the source.
Francis Mphepo, a political advisor to the president has taken over Ntaba’s role.
But Ntaba, dubbed “talking computer” by the British Broadcasting Corporation when he was the Malawi Congress Party Publicity Secretary during Hastings Banda’s dictatorship era denies that he has been booted out of office.
“I have not been kicked out of office…I am still in the job with my office in Europa House in Lilongwe City Centre and my DPP Secretary General office in Area 12.
“In fact I find this ludicrous and nonsensical,” said Ntaba. But DPP insiders have revealed that Ntaba has lost the trust of the president and party executive members singling him as a breed of squabbles within the party.
Henry Chimunthu Banda, DPP First Vice President and Minister of Energy and Mining will take over the role of Secretary General - in an acting capacity - as soon as parliament rises.
“He made the remark that angered the president and the whole executive committee finds his advice ill conceived and ill timed particularly when the president is still mourning the death of his wife, the First Lady.
“This is not the right time for him to consider marriage,” said the DPP supremo who sought not to be named.
State House Press officer could not be reached for a comment as his phone went unanswered.
Ntaba recently came under heavy attack from Mutharika’s children for revealing the exact nature of illness that killed Madame Ethel Mutharika. He was reported to have been kicked and slapped by the drunken children.
Taiwan-Africa Summit Special Report: Agricultural aid in Malawi harvests goodwill
Visitors to Malawi like to wander in the tropical forest, climb mountains high and low, and encounter wild animals on the way. In the last few years, Malawi became one of the hottest tourist spots in Africa, challenging other countries famed for tourism, such as Kenya. With five national parks and four game reserves, Malawi satisfied those longing for something different and adventurous on their vacation.
"People visit Malawi because the animals are outside. The animals are not migrating and they are always in the open," Malawi's Ambassador to Taiwan Thengo Maloya said Aug. 27. Many Taiwanese remain unfamiliar with this southern sub-Saharan nation of 13 million people and its lush landscapes, abundant wildlife, and spirited citizens; however, Maloya suggested that increased exchanges between the two nations would help to further solidify their cordial relationship.
Relations between the Republic of China and Malawi were first established in 1964, and have become stronger and tighter over the past 40-plus years. Malawi set up its current embassy in Taiwan in 1999, when Eunice Kazembe was the ambassador. Since that time, officials from both nations have been making efforts to promote bilateral cooperation and opportunities for Taiwan's businesses in agricultural technology, basic infrastructure and trade. Non-governmental organizations from Taiwan have also dispatched personnel to Malawi to provide medical care and improve people's quality of life.
Agricultural yield in Malawi, an agrarian society, has already surpassed domestic need, thus allowing the opportunity for exports, Maloya said. Taiwan has taken the lead in investing in agricultural technology, particularly rice cultivation, in recent years. Staples like rice, sugar and corn strengthened the economy, which was once almost solely dependent upon tobacco. "We want to diversify," said Maloya, emphasizing that Malawi's successful agricultural transformation could be attributed to government support. This year alone, some 10,000 metric tons of food were donated to Malawi's neighbors Lesotho and Swaziland, showing that Malawi has truly come into its own in agricultural production.
As a member of the Southern African Development Community, Malawi is poised to take advantage of its strategic location and act as a regional transshipment point. Investors, Maloya hinted, could also share in related benefits and favorable policies, such as a subsidy provided for fertilizer to help farmers boost production.
"Taiwan actually has an agriculture mission in Malawi," Maloya said, and what was being done was helpful. As Malawi is thrice the size of Taiwan, however, it ought to be able to regularly produce far above its own domestic need, he continued. Overcoming difficulties encountered in farming and distribution remains sticking points as the country looks to move forward, he said, while especially pressing issues include irrigation, machinery fertilizer and food storage.
According to Maloya, what makes life in Malawi a bit more pleasurable is the fact that Malawians are very cooperative, hospitable and friendly. Advisory centers have also been established to help newcomers find their way. A sizeable number of Asians and Europeans call Malawi home, and communication for business owners is not a problem since many of Malawi's people speak English.
Every African country faces unique challenges and issues, so Maloya suggested Taiwan's assistance programs could function better by providing aid according to the needs of each country. Such a process would reduce inefficiency and increase integration between the two nations. An appropriate policy will help Taiwan and Malawi, and Taiwan and Africa, grow closer and stronger together as each faces the challenges of the 21st century, Maloya stressed.
"People visit Malawi because the animals are outside. The animals are not migrating and they are always in the open," Malawi's Ambassador to Taiwan Thengo Maloya said Aug. 27. Many Taiwanese remain unfamiliar with this southern sub-Saharan nation of 13 million people and its lush landscapes, abundant wildlife, and spirited citizens; however, Maloya suggested that increased exchanges between the two nations would help to further solidify their cordial relationship.
Relations between the Republic of China and Malawi were first established in 1964, and have become stronger and tighter over the past 40-plus years. Malawi set up its current embassy in Taiwan in 1999, when Eunice Kazembe was the ambassador. Since that time, officials from both nations have been making efforts to promote bilateral cooperation and opportunities for Taiwan's businesses in agricultural technology, basic infrastructure and trade. Non-governmental organizations from Taiwan have also dispatched personnel to Malawi to provide medical care and improve people's quality of life.
Agricultural yield in Malawi, an agrarian society, has already surpassed domestic need, thus allowing the opportunity for exports, Maloya said. Taiwan has taken the lead in investing in agricultural technology, particularly rice cultivation, in recent years. Staples like rice, sugar and corn strengthened the economy, which was once almost solely dependent upon tobacco. "We want to diversify," said Maloya, emphasizing that Malawi's successful agricultural transformation could be attributed to government support. This year alone, some 10,000 metric tons of food were donated to Malawi's neighbors Lesotho and Swaziland, showing that Malawi has truly come into its own in agricultural production.
As a member of the Southern African Development Community, Malawi is poised to take advantage of its strategic location and act as a regional transshipment point. Investors, Maloya hinted, could also share in related benefits and favorable policies, such as a subsidy provided for fertilizer to help farmers boost production.
"Taiwan actually has an agriculture mission in Malawi," Maloya said, and what was being done was helpful. As Malawi is thrice the size of Taiwan, however, it ought to be able to regularly produce far above its own domestic need, he continued. Overcoming difficulties encountered in farming and distribution remains sticking points as the country looks to move forward, he said, while especially pressing issues include irrigation, machinery fertilizer and food storage.
According to Maloya, what makes life in Malawi a bit more pleasurable is the fact that Malawians are very cooperative, hospitable and friendly. Advisory centers have also been established to help newcomers find their way. A sizeable number of Asians and Europeans call Malawi home, and communication for business owners is not a problem since many of Malawi's people speak English.
Every African country faces unique challenges and issues, so Maloya suggested Taiwan's assistance programs could function better by providing aid according to the needs of each country. Such a process would reduce inefficiency and increase integration between the two nations. An appropriate policy will help Taiwan and Malawi, and Taiwan and Africa, grow closer and stronger together as each faces the challenges of the 21st century, Maloya stressed.
Save the Children's response to Madonna's potential Malawi adoption
Louise Melville, Save the Children's Protection Adviser said:
Save the Children UK is extremely concerned to hear that anybody is considering internationally adopting children from Malawi. International adoption is now big business across the world. Unscrupulous agencies and orphanages across the world are making vast amounts of money by selling babies, while the children are left vulnerable to trafficking, abuse and exploitation.
Malawi has not signed up to the Hague Convention on International Adoption, the international guidelines set down to ensure being adopted is in the best interests of the child. The vast majority of children in institutions globally are not orphans - they have one or both parents alive, who should be supported to care for them. Only children who have no family members and who have not been able to be adopted in their own country should be eligible for international adoption.
But in a country like Malawi, where this industry is completely unregulated, such essential checks are unlikely to have taken place. If any couple is considering adopting, we urge them to first consider adopting nationally.
Anyone looking abroad must first make sure the country they are adopting from is signed up to the Hague Convention and must use a reputable agency.
Otherwise children will continue to suffer at the hands of what is, often, a ruthless industry.
Save the Children UK is extremely concerned to hear that anybody is considering internationally adopting children from Malawi. International adoption is now big business across the world. Unscrupulous agencies and orphanages across the world are making vast amounts of money by selling babies, while the children are left vulnerable to trafficking, abuse and exploitation.
Malawi has not signed up to the Hague Convention on International Adoption, the international guidelines set down to ensure being adopted is in the best interests of the child. The vast majority of children in institutions globally are not orphans - they have one or both parents alive, who should be supported to care for them. Only children who have no family members and who have not been able to be adopted in their own country should be eligible for international adoption.
But in a country like Malawi, where this industry is completely unregulated, such essential checks are unlikely to have taken place. If any couple is considering adopting, we urge them to first consider adopting nationally.
Anyone looking abroad must first make sure the country they are adopting from is signed up to the Hague Convention and must use a reputable agency.
Otherwise children will continue to suffer at the hands of what is, often, a ruthless industry.
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