Against the background that the process of developing the Social Protection policy and programmes in Malawi can only be participatory if the process allows for an open and inclusive national dialogue, RHVP, together with IPRSE, organised a media training workshop in Blantyre on the 8^th and 9^th of December, 2007. The rationale behind the workshop was that a possible way of achieving national dialogue on Social Protection is through the media as a forum for dialogue on poverty-related issues by all relevant stakeholders.

The link between freedom of expression/information and development and poverty reduction has become apparent in recent years, mainly because information enables people to claim their rights, including the effective implementation of poverty reduction strategies. This link also strengthens mechanisms to hold government accountable to their commitments and reduces corruption since evidence shows that the poor are the ones bearing the greatest burden of corruption. Freedom of information enables people to make informed choices and allows them, including marginalised groups, to participate in public debates and to influence decisions empowering the poor to become stakeholders of development.

The training workshop had the participation of 15 journalists from different media houses including prominent news papers, the daily times, the nation, Montfort Media, Guardian News Paper and also radio stations like Malawi Broad Casting cooperation, Capital Radio 102.5, MIJ, and Joy FM and Malawi Television.

Trainers:

• Dr Blessings Chinsinga – Board Chairperson of IPRSE
• Mr Paul Msoma – Director of Programme
• Brett Davidson – RHVP
• Mr Harry Mwamlima – Deputy Director of Ministry of Economic Planning and Development.

Training topics:

• Understanding Poverty and Vulnerability: the Malawi Context
• Challenges in Reporting on Poverty and Vulnerability
• Does Malawi need a Social Protection Policy?
• Understanding Social Protection: the Southern African Perspective
• Social Protection Case Study: Mchinji Cash Transfer
• Media’s Role in Reporting on Social Protection
• Social Protection Reporting Techniques

Feedback from participants:

1. Participants were impressed with both the presentations and the handouts that were provided which combined concepts they were hearing about for the first time as well as explanations and emphasis on the role the media can play in advocating for social protection for the advantage of the poor and vulnerable.
2. It was an eye opener for them to learn that a poor country like Malawi can actually afford to use some resources to help the plight of the poor in order to change their status.
3. The presentations revealed to them that it is possible to write front page poverty related stories that can sell their papers. As such, the training has kindled an interest for journalist to look out for issues to do with poverty and social protection.
4. The journalists also appreciated the skills learnt in reporting on issues of poverty and hunger.
5. The journalist requested a trip to Mchinji so that they can record real life stories from the beneficiaries of the Mchinji cash transfer programme.