STORY: UN urges Malawi to join Global Coalition for Social Justice
SHOOTING TIME: May 1, 2024
DATELINE: May 4, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:37
LOCATION: BLANTYRE, Malawi
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the event
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): REBECCA ADDA-DONTOH, United Nations (UN) country representative to Malawi
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): REBECCA ADDA-DONTOH, United Nations (UN) country representative to Malawi

STORYLINE:

Rebecca Adda-Dontoh, the United Nations (UN) country representative to Malawi, has urged the southeastern African country to join the Global Coalition for Social Justice that the UN established to guide policy decisions across the globe.
   
The UN official made the appeal on Wednesday during the International Labor Day celebrations in Malawi's commercial city of Blantyre, where President Lazarus Chakwera was the special guest.
   
SOUNDBITE 1 (English): REBECCA ADDA-DONTOH, United Nations (UN) country representative to Malawi
"The UN through the International Labour Organization launched the Global Coalition for Social Justice last year. The coalition has already attracted more than 200 partners including governments, employers and workers organizations. We encourage Malawi to join the coalition as it provides a dynamic force for change, and advocates for social justice as a cornerstone for policy decisions."
   
The UN official said Malawi, with its majority youthful population, has "huge potential to drive economic growth," but the country's unemployment, at 21 percent at the national level, and 23 percent among the youth, remains a concern.
   
Adda-Dontoh commended Malawi for being among the first member states to commit to becoming a pathfinder country for the implementation of the Global Accelerator Initiative on justice and social protection.
   
She said the UN has mobilized initial funding to support the implementation of the initiative in other countries and that her organization is in conversation with Malawi authorities to bring the funds to Malawi.
   
SOUNDBITE 2 (English): REBECCA ADDA-DONTOH, United Nations (UN) country representative to Malawi
"As United Nations in Malawi, we stand firmly, as always, with the government and the people of Malawi to ensure a coordinated approach in providing sustainable social protection. As you may recall, your Excellency, through your office, Malawi was among the first member states to commit to becoming a pathfinder country for the implementation of the Global Accelerator Initiative on jobs and social protection."

In his keynote address, Chakwera pledged to continue creating jobs for Malawians, including the youth, to close the unemployment gap in the country.
   
The Malawian leader said his government has already created more jobs through construction projects, mega-farming, and hundreds of businesses that the Malawi government is funding through National Economic Empowerment Fund loans.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Blantyre, Malawi.
(XHTV)