In a landmark commitment to national public health, NBS Bank has pledged K5 billion toward the Beautify Malawi (BEAM) Trust's School Hygiene and Sanitation Programme — targeting all 6,942 registered primary schools across Malawi's 28 districts.

The partnership was announced at the launch of Beautify Malawi's BEAM Strategic Launch help at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.

Speaking at the strategy launch, NBS CEO Temwani Simwaka said NBS Bank is joining as the funding and campaign lead to operationalize the initiative across all public primary schools over 5 years , reaching every district nationwide. The event marked one of the single largest corporate commitments to school sanitation in Malawi's history.

"Clean water and proper sanitation are not luxuries — they are the foundation upon which quality education is built. NBS Bank is proud to stand with BEAM Trust in ensuring every child in Malawi learns in a clean, dignified environment."

— Temwani Simwaka - CEO, NBS Bank

There are 6942 public primary schools in Malawi with 69% of the population that has access to safe drinking water. Beautify Malawi, BEAM, has designed a WASH-focused school program  to address these challenges and alleviate the burden on primary healthcare facilities by promoting preventive hygiene practices among school-aged children and create champions and heroes' of sanitation.

Why School Sanitation Matters

According to the Ministry of Education's 2025 school census, only 37% of rural primary schools in Malawi have access to functional, gender-segregated toilet facilities. In many schools, the ratio of pupils to toilet stalls exceeds 200 to 1 — far above the UNICEF recommended standard of 25 girls per stall and 50 boys per stall.

The consequences extend beyond hygiene. Research consistently finds that the absence of private sanitation facilities is a leading driver of girls dropping out of school upon reaching puberty. BEAM Trust's own data suggests that schools with improved sanitation see a 23% improvement in girls' attendance rates within the first two academic terms of installation.

Programme at a Glance

  • 6,942 primary schools to receive hygiene improvements
  • Gender-segregated toilet blocks in every school
  • Handwashing stations with soap supply for 12 months
  • Hygiene education curriculum for Standards 1–8
  • Teacher training workshops in all 28 districts
  • Quarterly monitoring and reporting to NBS Bank

A Community-Centered Approach

Unlike traditional infrastructure projects, the BEAM Trust hygiene Programme is designed with communities at its centre. Each school will form a School Hygiene Committee — comprising teachers, parents, and senior pupils — responsible for day-to-day maintenance and accountability. BEAM Trust will provide ongoing mentorship and supply chain support to ensure sustainability beyond the programmes initial funding cycle.

"What we are building here is not just infrastructure. We are building a culture of hygiene that will outlast every brick and every pipe we install."

— Patron, BEAM Trust Malawi

Looking Ahead

By 2030, BEAM will have made a measurable contribution to improved sanitation outcomes in public spaces and champion national policies and coordinate multi-stakeholder action for sustainable public health outcomes, promoting city-wise inclusive sanitation, sanitation as a business and a climate0resilient infrastructure.