NCA celebrates 75th anniversary, promises more support to Malawi

Malawi: As Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) celebrates its 75th anniversary, the organisation says it is committed to providing more assistance to Malawi in areas such as agriculture and child welfare, among others.

NCA Secretary General Dagfinn Hoybraten stated on the sidelines of the celebration to mark the NCA's 75th anniversary, which was held at the Sunbird Capital Hotel in Lilongwe, that the NCA has immediate plans to support Malawi.

Hoybraten said: “As NCA we are like a family to Malawi, we stepped up in the terrible flood crisis that just recently happened in some parts of the country.

“At the moment we have immediate plans to continue supporting Malawi in the areas of; food and nutrition as well as introducing programs that would help to ensure that children are going to school.”

He also stated that in their 75-year history, they have worked in Malawi for 20 years, and he praised the bilateral relationship that has existed between NCA and local partners.

“We have seen tangible results working with partners in Malawi over the last 20 years there be in the area of; health, agriculture, sustainable economic empowerment as well as also in the fight against gender-based violence and indeed with the partnership we have locally many things have been achieved,” he said.

In her speech, Minister of Labour Vera Kamtukule, who was the guest of honour at NCA's 75th-anniversary celebration, stated that the government values the work that NCA has done in the country over the last 20 years.

"NCA has long supported Malawi in various sectors, including agriculture and women's empowerment, and as a government, we are grateful for the work that this organisation has done in the country," Kamtukule said.

She also urged NCA to continue providing assistance to Malawi, claiming that it would help Malawi achieve its 2063 goals.

The NCA 75th anniversary celebration began with a solidarity match from the parliament roundabout to the Sunbird Capital Hotel, followed by a tour of the pavilions organised by NCA's local partners and project beneficiaries by NCA VIP officials and the Labour Minister.