Stakeholders at the validation meeting in Lilongwe.

  On 9 December 2025, CSONA convened a multi-stakeholder validation workshop at Crossroads Hotel to review and refine consolidated food fortification messages in both English and Chichewa. The session brought together representatives from the Department of Nutrition, We Effect, Farmers Union of Malawi, DAES, Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS), CSONA, and other key partners. 

The objective of the workshop was to ensure that the drafted fortification messages are accurate, clear, culturally appropriate, and aligned with national standards. Participants examined messages under three main thematic areas: Food Fortification Awareness, Identifying Fortified Products, and Encouraging Household Use of Fortified Foods. 

Throughout the day, stakeholders engaged in group discussions to validate content, confirm relevance to target audiences, and agree on suitable communication channels such as posters, leaflets, and radio. Facilitators also presented refined versions of the messages, incorporating feedback from the plenary.  The workshop concluded with final comments, agreement on next steps for consolidating the messages, and appreciation of the contributions made by all participants. The validated messages will now be finalised and prepared for dissemination to communities and partners across Malawi.