Joint Monitoring Visit by EU, UNICEF and MoGCDSW to Mzimba North and South

The European Union, UNICEF, and officials from the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare conducted a joint monitoring visit to Mzimba North and Mzimba South to assess progress under the SP-GEAR project. Under this initiative, CRECCOM is supporting Output 2 in Mzimba North, Mzimba South, and Zomba.

The three-day mission aimed to appreciate implementation progress through direct engagement with community structures benefiting from the project. Using Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and site visits, the delegation gathered first-hand insights into how the interventions are strengthening livelihoods, promoting social accountability, and enhancing access to social protection services.

The visit commenced with a briefing meeting at Mbelwa District Council, where a joint presentation for both Mzimba North and South provided an overview of SP-GEAR interventions, key achievements, and implementation challenges. This session offered the delegation a comprehensive understanding of the project’s performance across the two districts and set the context for the field engagements.

Following the briefing, the team visited a Skills Development Centre, where they interacted with youth beneficiaries undergoing vocational training under the TEVETA programme. The interaction highlighted the role of skills development in improving employability and creating pathways out of poverty for young people, particularly those from Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) households.

On the second day, the delegation engaged with various community structures established and strengthened under the project. These included Savings and Loan Groups (SLGs), Community-Based Trainers (CBTs), Gender Champions, Harmonized Grievance Redress Mechanism (HGRM) committees, Community Victim Support Units (CVSUs), and elderly SCTP beneficiaries. Through these discussions, the team appreciated the extent to which the project is fostering community participation, strengthening local systems for accountability and protection, and improving household resilience.

The final day of the visit focused on Mzimba North, where the delegation toured the Golden Gift Skills Development Centre in Mzuzu. The team interacted with trainees—particularly those from SCTP households—who are acquiring practical skills in carpentry, electrical installation, bricklaying, and plumbing. The visit provided a clear demonstration of how the integration of social protection and skills development is contributing to sustainable livelihood opportunities. Subsequent discussions with SLGs, CBTs, Gender Champions, HGRM committees, and elderly beneficiaries enabled the delegation to assess the project’s impact, community ownership, and prospects for sustainability.

Participants in the joint monitoring visit included representatives from UNICEF, the European Union, and the Ministry, alongside the District Commissioner (DC), the Director of Planning and Development (DPD), TEVETA officials, CRECCOM officers, and other technical staff from Mbelwa District Council.

Overall, the mission provided a valuable platform for reflection, learning, and strategic guidance, while reaffirming the importance of collaborative implementation in delivering integrated and sustainable social protection outcomes at community level.