In mid-October 2023, we received funding approval from the German Federal Ministry
for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) for a new project:
The establishment of a counselling, information and service centre on sexual and
reproductive health and family planning issues in Northern Malawi
For this project, the local authority has provided our partner Pamoza Tingakwaniska
with a piece of land of about 0.5 hectares, which has been dedicated for the operation
of the counselling centre for a period of 50 years.
This means that we can now realize a project whose planning we have already started
in mid-2022:
In the course of our previous family planning projects, we had repeatedly noticed
that there is no facility in Karonga in northern Malawi where premises are available
in which sexual and reproductive health services as well as youth-friendly health
services can be adequately offered.
In the health facilities where these services are available at all or offered as
part of our family planning projects, rooms that are actually used for other purposes
have to be improvised. Thus, the rooms lack the necessary equipment, furniture and
space, but especially the necessary privacy.
The most important characteristics of this new project:
Region: Karonga and Chipita districts, North Malawi.
Duration: December 2023 to March 2026
Budget: approx. 270,000 €, including BMZ funding
Local partner: Pamoza Tingakwaniska
The main objectives of the project:
● The counselling, information and service centre (Pamoza OneStop Centre) will create
a protected space where young people can access YFHS (Youth Friendly Health Services)
and information in the field of SRHR (Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights)
in a confidential environment.
● After the opening of the Pamoza OneStop Centre, which is planned for the 1. halfyear
2025, all project-specific services in the area of SRHR and YFHS will be offered,
in particular:
- STD testing and treatment
- Family planning including insertion and removal of modern contraceptives
- Family planning therapies (psychosexual counselling)
- Information sessions on SRHR
● Through regular community forums and health marches, we will provoke a change in
the awareness of the community. This overcomes preconceived negative attitudes and
myths about SRHR. These activities are supported by topic-related radio broadcasts
as well as the targeted use of social media.
● Regular trainings are held for health care workers on SRHR and YFHS so that they
can provide project-related services when needed. In addition, 2 corresponding workshops
are offered for local authorities, at the level of Group Village Headpersons.
This project aims to sustainably promote awareness and empowerment of adolescents,
as well as the ability of young people to make conscious, healthy and respectful
decisions regarding their sexual behaviour.
The overall goal of this project is also to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies,
especially among teenagers, and thus contribute to a reduction of the still very
high population growth in Malawi.
This project is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation
and Development ( BMZ )
