LocationsUNDP hands over 152 printers to National Registration Bureau to expand civil registration
October 10, 2026
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Dr. Chika Charles Aniekwe, hands over the equipment to Hon. Mukhito, Minister of Homeland Security.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has handed over 152 printers to Malawi’s National Registration Bureau (NRB) to expand civil registration and the issuance of certificates at Traditional Authority offices and health facilities.
The equipment comprises 100 printers for registration operations at Traditional Authority level and 52 for health facilities. The support aims to reduce travel costs, waiting times and administrative barriers for people seeking birth, death and other registration documents.
The printers were provided through the Inclusive Digital Transformation for Malawi (IDT4M) programme, funded by the European Union, Irish Aid and the Royal Norwegian Embassy.
Minister of Homeland Security, Hon. Peter Mukhito, received the equipment on behalf of the ministries of Homeland Security, Health and Sanitation, and Local Government and Rural Development.
Speaking at the handover, Hon. Mukhito said the equipment would support the government’s efforts to make legal identity services accessible across the country.
“Every Malawian must be able to obtain and use a secure legal identity, regardless of where they live.”
He said the investment went beyond the provision of equipment.
“It is about identity. It is about dignity. It is about inclusion. And, ultimately, it is about people,” he said.
Representatives of UNDP, Irish Aid and the Government of Malawi pose for a group photo at the handover ceremony.
The 52 printers allocated to health facilities will support the expansion of birth and death registration, complementing an initial deployment across 60 facilities. The other 100 will support the decentralisation of registration services to Traditional Authority level.
UNDP Malawi Deputy Resident Representative Dr Chika Charles Aniekwe said the support should be assessed by its impact on access to services.
“Success will ultimately be measured not by the number of printers installed, but by the number of citizens who can access essential services more easily, affordably and with dignity.”
He said the handover formed part of wider efforts to strengthen Malawi’s national identity system.
“Today, we are handing over printers. But what we are collectively building is far more significant: a trusted national identity infrastructure that recognizes every person, connects essential services and strengthens Government's capacity to serve its people.”
Minister of Homeland Security Hon. Peter Mukhito (second from right) speaks with UNDP Digital Advisor Mr. Malik Azhar (second from left), as Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation Hon. Charles Chilambula (far right), UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Dr Chika Charles Aniekwe (third from left) and Mr. Jimmy Kawaye of the Embassy of Ireland look on.
Through IDT4M, UNDP is providing technical support for an integrated digital registration system. The Nzika registration application, which connects civil registration with national identity management, has been piloted in 87 locations across five districts. Plans are in place to expand it to 250 locations by 2028.
Malawi has registered 7,999,851 births since registration efforts began in 2015. Of these, 6,377,862 were registered between 2022 and 2026 during the National Birth Registration Campaign, which reached children who had not been registered at birth as well as those born in hospitals.
Civil registration also provides population data used in health planning, social protection and the delivery of public services.
Mukhito said effective service delivery would require more than equipment.
“Technology alone does not deliver services.”
Sustaining the expanded services will require adequate staffing, reliable connectivity, equipment maintenance and coordination among NRB, health facilities, local authorities and traditional leaders.
“That is how policy becomes service. That is how investment becomes impact. And that is how citizens experience Government.”
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