by Anna Jolly (Maestral International), Lameck Kampion (Catholic Relief Service), & Trophina Limbani (Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare)
On 30th May 2026, the Government of Malawi officially launched its National Children’s Care Reform Strategy (2026–2030), marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen family- and community-based care for children. It was officially launched during the International Family Day Celebrations in Lunzu, Blantyre by the Guest of Honour, the Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Honorable Mary Thom Navicha, MP. After the launch the strategy has been disseminated to districts for implementation.
The Strategy was developed by the National Children’s Care Reform Taskforce, under the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, with technical assistance provided by Maestral International’s Senior Associate, Anna Jolly. Anna’s support built on an earlier phase of work in which she assisted the same Taskforce to conduct a national care system assessment, laying the evidence base from which the new Strategy has now emerged.
The Strategy sets out a coordinated national vision for care reform, structured around four priority strategic pillars:
1. Family strengthening and prevention of unnecessary child-family separation
2. Enhancing all forms of family- and community-based alternative care and adoption
3. Transforming residential care
4. System strengthening and governance
Together, these pillars provide a comprehensive framework for the prioritisation of prevention of unnecessary child-family separation within Malawi’s care system, alongside a reduced reliance on residential care, via stronger gatekeeping which ensures it is used only as a last resort.
This achievement reflects the sustained commitment of the Ministry of Gender, Social Welfare, and Community Development and the National Children’s Care Reform Taskforce to placing children’s right to grow up in a family at the centre of national policy. It also demonstrates the value of grounding strategic reform in a rigorous, evidence-based participatory assessment of the existing care system, ensuring that the resulting strategy responds directly to the realities and needs identified on the ground.
Maestral International congratulates the Ministry of Gender, Children Disability and Social Welfare and the National Children’s Care Reform Taskforce on this important achievement, and looks forward to continuing to support Malawi as it moves from strategy into implementation.