{"id":18020,"date":"2013-10-10T08:43:02","date_gmt":"2013-10-10T08:43:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.one.org\/africa\/?post_type=one_press&p=18020"},"modified":"2013-10-10T08:43:02","modified_gmt":"2013-10-10T08:43:02","slug":"you-choose-results-malawians-want-an-honest-and-responsive-government","status":"publish","type":"one_press","link":"https:\/\/www.one.org\/africa\/press\/you-choose-results-malawians-want-an-honest-and-responsive-government\/","title":{"rendered":"You Choose Results: Malawians Want an Honest and Responsive Government"},"content":{"rendered":"

ONE connects thousands of ordinary Malawians with UN team working on the Post-2015 Development Agenda<\/i><\/p>\n

LILONGWE, Malawi<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i>\u2013 The ONE Campaign\u2019s survey of nearly 30,000 people from a cross-section of society in Malawi has found that the top priority among young people is the need for better job opportunities. Malawians under 30 also believe an honest and responsible government should be an important priority.<\/p>\n

Among all age groups and geographical areas, the issue of honest and responsive government was cited as the top concern for Malawians. Other high priorities are better healthcare, schools and infrastructure. Notably, young people in Malawi also urged leaders to tackle the issues of climate change and gender equality.<\/p>\n

About half of Malawians participated in the\u00a0You Choose<\/i>\u00a0campaign by sending SMS text messages to ONE, while others took part in Youth Consultative Forums (YCF) and village assemblies in rural areas. The data was collected between March and June 2013 as a complimentary effort to the United Nations\u00a0My World\u00a0<\/i>global survey.<\/p>\n

ONE has since presented these preliminary findings to the High-Level Panel (HLP) of Eminent Persons commissioned by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, to recommend an achievable framework for the world\u2019s post-2015 development agenda.<\/p>\n

The HLP has since submitted its report to the UN Secretary General, outlining its vision for the next set of global development goals, which includes many of the priorities identified by You Choose participants. Malawians\u2019 priorities for better job opportunities, an honest and responsible government, better healthcare and improved education are prominently reflected in the report. The post 2015 development agenda will be shaped and finalized over the coming two years as member states convene to deliberate and come to an agreement on the details of the framework.<\/p>\n

Later this month, ONE will also release findings from the\u00a0You Choose<\/i>\u00a0surveys conducted in Zambia and South Africa.<\/p>\n

Dr. Sipho Moyo, ONE Africa Director said:<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cWe submitted the hard data that we collected regarding citizens’ real concerns and development priorities to the UN High Level Panel tasked with setting the new development agenda, and we are pleased that the voices of Africa Citizens were heard.<\/i><\/p>\n

The panel recognized that it is vital that the needs and desires of the world\u2019s poorest, many of which are Africans, are placed at the heart of a new development agenda.\u00a0Efforts such as You Choose will ensure that the post-2015 MDGs are the peoples\u2019 MDGs, not\u00a0MDGs from the UN, governments or NGOs.<\/i><\/p>\n

It is now up to our governments to turn the aspirations of their citizens into actionable programs that will achieve enduring socio-economic transformation and virtually end extreme poverty by 2030.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In Malawi, ONE worked with a number of partners including:\u00a0the\u00a0Council for Non-Governmental Organizations in Malawi (CONGOMA); the Malawi Council of Churches; the\u00a0Youth Consultative Forum;\u00a0and the Malawi Savings Bank (MSB). The effort was also supported by celebrities Winiko and Dan Lu who played a key role in urging citizens to participate.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

Notes to Editors<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

1. The HLP Report to the UN Secretary General underscored that creating good and decent jobs is essential for inclusive growth and will help ensure reductions in poverty and inequality. In a welcome move, the report also puts forward a separate goal on governance and recognises transparency and accountability as critical drivers of effective institutions. Additionally, the HLP has proposed goals for healthcare and education that place emphasis on quality improvements. The HLP vision report was issued on May 30 and is available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2. The survey results show that Malawian citizens want their leaders to promote an honest and responsive government, good education and better healthcare.\u00a0 Specific qualitative findings include:<\/p>\n