As the world races towards 2025, the midpoint of the last decade of SDG action, the need for swift identification of actionable strategies becomes an imperative for policymakers. With a focus on Malawi, a country grappling with uneven SDG progress, this policy brief highlights the pivotal role of human capital development (HCD) in areas such as health, education, skill building and infrastructure development in the attainment of the SDGs. 

Based on a set of simulations, the brief underscores the transformative impact of an integrated HCD approach, whereby policy design, planning and programme implementation converge to unlock the potential of human capital as a driver of sustainable development. This analysis builds on the ‘Human Capital Push Scenario’ employed by using the International Futures (IFs) model.