The Centre for Social Concern

The Centre For Social Concern (CfSC) is a project of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers). In line with their vision and mission, the CfSC seeks to promote Justice and Peace and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC) and Interfaith Dialogue in Malawi and beyond. The Centre was started in 2002 and in its short history has been working on issues like:

A monthly review of the cost of living through the Basic Needs Basket survey
The international debt burden, its causes and debt cancellation
The linkage between the international trade system and poverty and the rising cost of living in Malawi
The plight of the tobacco tenants and the promotion of the passing of a bill regulating tobacco tenancy labour
A survey on how people who have very low salaries cope with the ever-rising cost of living
Marginalization of religious communities and (the lack of) participation in development
Dialogue between Islam and the Catholic Church on their social teaching
Conflict management and mediation, mainly in conflicts involving religion

CfSC Strategic Plan Launch

CfSC's staff and other partners witnessed the launch of it's 2020 - 2024 strategic Plan launch. The event took place on 18th June 2020 at its offices. Below are the highlights of the event.

Urban Basic Needs Basket (UBNB)

Urban Basic Needs Basket(UBNB) is a project under the Social Conditions Research Programme. The Centre for Social Concern (CFSC) carries out research into the cost of living for people living in Malawi's medium and high-density urban areas every month. Currently the monthly surveys are done in Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu and Zomba, with data collected from a sample of 7 to 10 markets and retail outlets (in each of the cities), as well as from selected households from each of the sampled areas. The Basic Needs Basket (BNB) includes both essential food and non-food items required for an average family of six to acquire a minimum standard of living each passing month.The urban BNB is published every month in two newspapers and circulated via e-mail to various organizations, including selected government ministries, and individuals. Two radio stations in Mzuzu and Lilongwe are also planning to have radio programmes using the BNB.

Rural Basic Needs Basket (RBNB)

Rural Basic Needs Basket (RBNB) is a project under the Social Conditions Research Programme. RBNB depicts various facets of the rural household situation such as food security and consumption patterns. It also depicts the cost of non-food items such as washing/bathing soap, matches, and paraffin etc. and also access to social amenities such as markets, roads, education, and health. To understand what fully it means you can download the Introduction to Rural Basic Needs Basket and it produces quarterly reports First qurterly report.

Bicycle distribution to Zomba and Chikwawa Community-Based Advocacy Group members to promote Right To Food funded by Flanders through UNDP took place on 22nd and 23rd January, 2020.

The Economic Justice Programme

Looks at the international contributing factors of the persistent poverty in Malawi. It examines the international trade relations and imbalances and how they impact on the cost of living. It monitors the spending of funds freed through debt cancellation. It promotes tax justice through studying the present tax system and proposing a more equitable way, where the stronger shoulders carry the bigger burden.

The Centre for Social Concern on 29th May, 2020 had AN INTERACTION SESSION WITH JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA HOUSES under Women@Work project funded by HIVOS. The meeting took place at CfSC's Offices. Click on the link to download the key note address of CfSC Director

On 1st May, 2020 The Centre for Social Concern had a labour day event amid Covid-19 outbreak which took place at CfSC's premises. CfSC Labour Day statement and wishes.

The Centre for Social Concern on 5th November 2019 had an orientation session on debt and right to food with journalists at Crown Hotel in Lilongwe. Click on the link to download the key note address of CfSC Director

CfSC Press Statements

CfSC Publications

To read or to download the Center for Social Concern's Publications click on the links below. The Community Stories and Challenges Through Photographs, Kasiya Case Study, Child Marriage and The Right to Food leaflet.

Some of the publications coming from these projects can be found on the publications page of this site. The latest contributions are the BNB data and press release, the Press Review and the homilies for Advent and Lent.

The Annual Reports give a good idea of the activities undertaken by CfSC and they can be downloaded as a PDF file in a booklet format ready for printing.

Taxation Justice

In 2010 the Malawi College of Accountancy carried out a Study of Malawi Taxation System on behalf of CfSC as part of its Taxation Justice activities. This report can be downloaded in PDF format from this web site by clicking the link above.

Inter-Religious Dialogue Project

One of the major CfSC pillars that strives for more tolerance, mutual understanding and respect among ethno religious and political groups in the light of the Catholic Social Teaching. Its strategic objective seeks to contribute towards peaceful co-existence among religions, ethnic groups and regions in Malawi. Coordinated from Lilongwe, this project is being implemented in Balaka, Lilongwe, Machinga, Mangochi and now Zomba in the context of democratic dispensation which has This growth has instigated a power struggle between different religious groups, resulting in struggles over geographical dominance between faiths over control of specific areas and the desire to woo more membership.

In its efforts to contribute to peaceful May 2019 elections, the Centre led the process of promoting a common understanding of the electoral process which comprised a number of stakeholders including the Episcopal Conference of Malawi. In the name of an exchange visit where local advisory committees of Balaka, Lilongwe, Machinga and Mangochi were invited, this agreement was made between representatives of the Faith Communities, Traditional Leaders, and Political Party Leaders of Balaka District to abide by the basic principles in the run-up to the Tripartite Elections. This function took place on 16th March, 2019 where a number of stakeholders including CCJP Mangochi, his lordship Bishop Montfort Sitima and other high profile religious leaders including MAM and QMAM leadership, CCAP representatives demonstrated their commitment. The Balaka peace commitment involved various traditional and political leaders who all agreed to maintain peace before, during and after the elections. The media including the BBC correspondent and Luntha covered the function which was appreciated by many people. Click on the link to download the article in PDF format. In an effort to strive for more tolerance among ethno religions the IRD project had meetings in Salima and Balaka respectively.

Tobacco Tenants

For many years the Missionaries of Africa have been working to improve the lives and working conditions of Tenant Labourers in Malawi. CfSC has continued this work with the Tobacco Tenants and Allied Workers Union of Malawi (TOTAWUM) and they are trying to get the Government to enact the draft Tenancy Labour Bill into law.

To build awareness concerning the Bill and the plight of Tobacco Tenants in particular CfSC held a Child Labour Conference with the Minister of LABOUR and ManPower Development Hon. Henry Mussa on 14th September 2016 at Cross Roads Hotel in Lilongwe. Click on the link to download the report in PDF format.

The Library

The Centre for Social Concern has a Library which is used by many students from the local area and the surrounding.

Objective: To assist the people surrounding the centre to have equitable access to good and essential reading materials through the Library and Resource Centre. Our main focus is to provide sufficient reading space and reading materials. Our Library has a apositive impact on students achievement. We believe that libraries will always exist as places for learners to find information, resources, services and instructions.

We get books through:

• Purchasing
• Donations from well wishers

For the two reasons above we would like to ask individuals, companies and institutions who have books that are not in use or can help us in form of money to purchase more books.

Opening Hours:

Monday - Friday 08:30 - 11:30 Morning, 01:30 - 4:30 Afternoon

Public Holidays 08:30 - 11:30 Morning, 01:30 - 4:30 Afternoon

Sartuday 08:30 - 11:00

We have different books like Tertiary, Secondary and Primary.

For further information about CfSC please see the contact page.