15/07/2026
On July 13, Ipas Africa Southern Region (ASR) in Malawi had the privilege of hosting one of our key donors, the Vitol Foundation, for a series of strategic meetings. This visit follows the Vitol Foundation’s recent commitment to support our work through a 2-year grant focused on addressing Child Marriage, Teen Pregnancy, and School Dropouts (CTS) – a critical nexus impacting adolescent well-being in Malawi.
The visit included high-level engagements with government and technical partners to align efforts and maximize impact:
Courtesy Call with the Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare:
Ipas ASR and the Vitol Foundation team met with the Honorable Minister to discuss collaborative strategies aimed at reducing child marriage, teen pregnancy, and school dropouts. The dialogue emphasized the need for multi-sectoral approaches to protect and empower adolescent girls.
Meeting with the National Planning Commission (NPC):
We engaged with the NPC Director to align our CTS-focused interventions with Malawi’s national development priorities. This discussion reinforced the importance of integrating adolescent well-being into broader planning frameworks for sustainable change.
Collaborative Session with the National CTS Steering Committee:
In a joint meeting with the National CTS Steering Committee, Ipas ASR, Vitol Foundation, and Health Brain Global Initiative reviewed progress, shared insights, and reaffirmed commitment to the national CTS agenda. This platform is vitol for coordinated action across stakeholders.
These engagements highlight the power of strategic partnerships in tackling complex social challenges. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Vitol Foundation for their continued trust and support, and to the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, the National Planning Commission, and the National CTS Steering Committee for their collaboration. Together, we are advancing policies and programs that safeguard the futures of Malawi’s youth.
