Obtaining input for the national policy for the elderly in Malawi was the subject of a recent RHVP-sponsored workshop held in Lilongwe on 28^th-30^th October 2007. The workshop was well attended by a range of people, including representatives of civil society and high level government officials, out of which four were Members of Parliament.

Following the opening by the Minister for Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly, Honorouble Clement Khembo, MP, various presentations were given on other countries' experiences by "international resource persons". These included presentations on other countries' policies for the elderly by Dr Tavengwa Nhongo and Dr Douglas Lackey of HelpAge International (Kenya), an examination of the Swazi Old Age Grant by Eric Maziya from the Kingdom of Swaziland, and a look at the Lesotho Old Age Pension by Dr Katharine Vincent of RHVP. She also spoke about the role of social transfers and the value of pensions as a starting point for reducing the vulnerability of the elderly.

Breakout sessions were then held to discuss the elderly policy in Malawi, currently in its third draft, which is based on the AU recommended policy framework (and includes clauses about introducing social transfers to the elderly). The sessions were highly successful, resulting in a final draft of the policy which will now be sent out to regional consultation.

Dr Vincent was also interviewed on local television about the elderly policy and, together with RHVP Country Coordinator in Malawi, Duncan Samikwa, participated in two radio programmes that will be aired on Radio Zodiac to encourage civil society debate about social protection.

*Picture: RHVP Malawi Country Coordinator Duncan Samikwa and Minister for Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly, Honorouble Clement Khembo