Emer Higgins
Ceist:450. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way that the Irish embassy in Malawi is delivering the Irish Aid programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13365/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 10 March 2021
Ceisteanna (450)
Freagraí scríofa
The Government’s policy for international development, ‘A Better World’, launched in February 2019, commits to scaling Ireland’s investment across four policy priorities: gender equality; reducing humanitarian need; climate action and strengthening governance.
This policy was complemented, in November 2019, by the Government’s Strategy for Africa to 2025, which builds on Ireland’s long history of engagement in the continent and commits to working with African countries in their efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular focus on reaching those furthest behind first. In May 2020, an OECD review recognised the excellence of Irish Aid, Ireland’s international development programme, which helps Ireland play a leading role advocating for poverty reduction, channelling our assistance to where it is needed most.
Malawi is one of the world’s poorest countries, ranked 174 out of 189 countries in the 2020 UN Human Development Index. In recent years, Malawi has been particularly affected by annual food insecurity, which affects large cohorts of the population for several months of the year.
Since the opening of the Embassy of Ireland in Lilongwe in 2007, and the setting up of the Irish Aid programme, Ireland has worked with a variety of partners including government, United Nations, international and local NGOS, and research institutions.
A highlight of the Embassy's programme in recent years has been Ireland’s work on developing the social protection system in Malawi, which contributes to the reducing humanitarian need policy priority. Ireland has made a marked contribution to the development and piloting of flexible, shock responsive, electronic cash transfers. This investment has informed national policy and the manner in which the Government of Malawi and other donors now approach humanitarian crises, including the annual lean season. These flexible cash transfers reduce the impact of crises such as COVID-19, while contributing to sustained improvements in the nutritional status of household members and improving school attendance.
With other development partners, Ireland has provided support to the agricultural sector and for agricultural research in Malawi. This has contributed to diversification of crop production, resulting in, inter alia, improved dietary diversity and improved nutrition.
Ireland has also become a recognised champion of innovative, climate-smart and affordable energy solutions and was a key supporter of the Government of Malawi’s ambitious National Cookstove Initiative, which successfully saw two million households switch from open fires to energy saving stoves by the end of 2020. The success of this initiative has led to a reduction in the rate of deforestation, and a reduction in the incidence of respiratory tract infections associated with cooking over open fires.