Vision 2020. The National long-term development perspective for Malawi.

The Vision 2020 - The National Long-Term Development Perspective for Malawi- is a national multi sectoral Vision of Malawi for the period 2000-2020. The Vision states that "By the year 2020, Malawi, as a God-fearing nation, will be secure, democratically mature, environmentally sustainable, self-reliant with equal opportunities for and active participation by all, having social services, vibrant cultural and religious values and a technologically driven middle-income economy".
The Vision's main objective is to help the government, the private sector and the people of Malawi to set out on a development path that has arisen from consensus from the NLTPS process. The Vision provides a framework for national development goals and the policies and strategies required for them.
The Vision implies a series of goals to be reached: good governance, sustainable economic growth and development, a vibrant culture, well-developed economic infrastructure, food security and nutrition, science and technology-led development, social sector development, a fair and equitable distribution of income and wealth and, lastly, sustainable environmental management.
The scope of these issues was defined to include the following related sub-issues. Good governance include the enhancement of national unity and the participation both of the public and private sectors which makes Malawians aware of their rights and responsibilities, enhance and sustain the rule of law and the respect for human rights, for the principles of separation of powers, of political participation by the general population, of transparency, accountability and of a corruption-free society.
Sustainable economic growth and development is related to the development of the manufacturing sector, the increase of savings and investment that brings the development of the financial sector, the development of tourism, agriculture and mining sectors and the transformation of Malawi into an export-oriented economy.
A Vibrant culture brings a positive work ethic, strengthen self-reliance and community participation in local development programmes, promote cultural practices that enhance health and support good natural resource and environmental management, reduce gender and all other forms of inequalities among social groups.
The Economic infrastructure goal protects the existing infrastructure and promote the development of more of them.
Social sector development implies the reduction of illiteracy and the improvement of the quality of education and the accessibility and quality of health services.
Science and technology-led development improve science and technology, education, training and culture, promote science and technology research and development, adapt and promote the transfer of new and emerging technologies, promote environmentally sound technologies, promote the implementation and use of information technology.
The fair and equitable distribution of income and wealth assume the reduction of unemployment, promote the development of enterprises, reduce poverty, raise agricultural incomes (including the improvement of tenancy arrangements and the access to land), increase social services, control population growth, reduce gender inequalities, address disability issues, improve the marketing system and further develop infrastructure.
Food security and nutrition assume the increase of food production, develop the livestock sector, develop irrigation, improve the efficiency of markets, improve land utilization and management, reduce post harvest losses, improve the nutritional status of Malawians, promote non-farm income generating activities, attain effective disaster management, economically empower the poor in Malawi and improve policy analysis.
Sustainable natural resource and environmental management help prevent and control land degradation, attain sustainable utilization of forests, promote effective and sound water resources management, reduce the threat to biological diversity, develop the human habitat, control high population growth, prevent and control air pollution and climate change, control noise pollution, prevent improper management of industrial and hazardous wastes and enhance political advocacy for natural resources and the environment.
The Vision was created by a national core team of ten people from the private sector, the government and the University of Malawi set up by the government to manage the Process. The team was helped by a working group of more than sixty people chosen from various sectors of the Malawian society.