The Government of Malawi has embarked on an ambitious digitalization initiative to modernize the management of human resource records.

The project, which will initially focus on 23,000 personnel records from the Ministry of Health, aims to streamline operations and enhance decision-making processes.

The Department of Human Resource Management and Development (DHRMD) officially launched the initiative on Thursday in Salima.

The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Department of the Accountant General (AGD).

During the launch event in Salima, Blessings Chilabade, Secretary for Human Resource Management and Development, emphasized the transformative potential of transitioning from manual to digital systems.

“The World Bank-funded initiative comes at a crucial time, addressing the challenges of manual computation of human resource data in Malawi. It is a significant step toward revolutionizing human resource management,” Chilabade stated.

Chilabade further highlighted the importance of digital platforms in improving efficiency and ensuring effective record management, describing the shift as a vital advancement.

“The modernization of our record-keeping systems will unlock new possibilities for streamlining operations. This move is aligned with global trends and represents the way forward,” he added.

The government expresses gratitude for the World Bank’s support, he said, noting that the digital system will strengthen e-government operations and improve access to personnel information.

Duff Msukwa, Director of Human Resource Management at the Ministry of Health, praised the project as a pivotal development for data management.

“We live in a digital era, and it’s imperative to adapt. This initiative lays a strong foundation for efficient data management within the Ministry of Health and across all government ministries, departments, and agencies. We are thrilled by this progress,” said Msukwa.

Overall, the initiative, which is part of a wider upgrade of the civil service human resource information management system, will digitalize records for more than 263,000 government employees nationwide to ensure a modern and efficient approach to human resource management.