Malawi National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2004.

The Malawi National Strategy for Sustainable Development (NSSD) 2004 is a multi-sectoral policy at the national level. The objective of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development is to provide the basis for Malawi‘s sustainable development framework to implement the recommendations made at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg, from 26th August to 4th September 2002. Specifically, the strategy will: provide Malawi‘s priority areas for environment management and socio-economic development for the next 10 to 15 years; be the basis for accessing donor resources pledged at the WSSD held in Johannesburg from 26th August to 4th September, 2002; assist to stimulate sustainable economic growth; and, contribute to the sustainable reduction of poverty in the country.
The NSSD promotes food security and poverty reduction. According to the NSSD, agriculture contributes to poverty reduction through activities towards the attainment of food security and agro-based income at national and household levels. One of the desired outcomes is to create a nation with sustainable food security and increased agro-based incomes. The goals of the action plan for agriculture sector under the theme of poverty reduction are set up in the NSSD as : a. By 2008 achieve the status of a nation with sustainable food security and increased agro-based incomes. b. Reduce people living in poverty from 65% to 33% by 2015. c. By 2015, reduce from 60% to 20% the number of households that run out of food stocks. d. Double maize production from 1000 to 2000 kg/ha/yr by 2008. e. Increase agricultural contribution to rural incomes from 64 to 70% by 2015. Strategy directions for food security and poverty reduction include: 1. Increase agricultural productivity and sustain or enhance the natural resource base, contributing to efforts to eradicate poverty and ensure environmental sustainability. 2. Encourage knowledge generation and transfer through research, extension education and communication. 3. Expand and strengthen access to agricultural inputs for vulnerable groups; 4. Promote agricultural productivity through irrigation practices; 5. Promote livestock industry; etc. Two of the objectives of the NSSD's action plan for water and sanitation are: a. Increase from 66% to 84% the number of households with access to safe drinking water by 2015. b. Improve access to good sanitation from 81% to 100% by 2015 (page 24). In addition, one of the objectives of the NSSD's action plan under the theme of health and population is to reduce poverty and malnutrition (page 96). Strategic aims include: a. Develop relevant nutritional programmes at community level. b. Scale up fortification of appropriate food stuffs with micronutrient food. c. Give iron supplements to all pregnant women at health facilities and traditional birth attendants. d. Supplement vitamin A to all children from 6 months of age every six months within 8 weeks of delivery. e. Reduce malnutrition in children under 5 years of age by at least one third.
The goal was set for the National Strategy as: Manage the environment responsibly, prevent degradation, provide a healthy life for all, protect the rights of future generations and conserve and enhance biological diversity. To achieve this goal, a series strategy directions are proposed in the NSSD. The goals of the action plan for biodivercity under the theme of Protecting and Managing the Natural Resource Base are set up in the NSSD, including: a. Implementation of the National Forestry Programme; b. Monitor and control the exploitation of fish, directing and regulating production within sustainable limits for each fishery; c. Undertake a programme of research in order to identify and quantify under-utilised fish resources; d. Disseminate to those concerned, the results of research and development to improve fisheries management, fishing, fish handling and processing techniques. e. Foster greater community involvement in resource management to improve the effectiveness and appropriateness of management initiatives. f. Promote fish production from smallholder and large fish farming operations. g. Prohibit the introduction of live exotic fish species unless and until scientific evidence justifies otherwise. h. Increased law enforcement capacity in protected areas i. Increased community based natural resource management so that local people j. Control human and wildlife conflicts.
The NSSD further promotes more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems through stratigies such as: strengthened advisory services in production and marketing for livestock and its products; strengthened surveillance for control of livestock diseases; improved access to markets, capital and financial services.
To increase the resilience of livelihoods to disasters, the NSSD sets up action plan for weather and climate. The goals of the action plan include: a. Reduce damage to property and loss of life caused by weather and climate natural disasters (floods, drought, etc). b. Contribute to the sustainable production of food and fibre. c. Meet the obligations of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and other related conventions.