International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025 in Malawi was marked by high-impact events that embraced a “business unusual” concept to promote women’s leadership as a catalyst for transformative growth and development across sectors—including business and the private sector.In collaboration with partners, UNDP Malawi hosted a Women-Led Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Clinic in Blantyre. The clinic, led by the Deputy Minister of Gender, Halima Daudi, brought together notable women leaders from the private sector, academia, and the UN system.SME Clinic: Women Entrepreneurs Taking the LeadThe clinic featured motivational stories from successful women, sharing their journeys to leadership in influential spaces. Over 100 women-led SMEs participated, with a shared vision to contribute to the transformation of Malawi’s business landscape.Among the featured entrepreneurs was Ruth Kalima, CEO of Roseberry Farms, who shared her experience of being supported by the UNDP. She spoke about being inspired to participate in a fund previously dominated by male entrepreneurs and how the banking sector supported her in meeting the matching fund requirements.Roseberry Farms partnered with the Malawi Innovation Challenge Fund (MICF) to establish a supply chain for smallholder farmers of high-value horticultural crops in Thyolo district. With a US$500,000 contribution from MICF and a US$250,000 investment from the company, the project responded to the growing demand for quality vegetables. It strengthened the out-grower program, constructed an anchor farm with greenhouses, established a packhouse for processing and packaging, and implemented a robust sales and marketing strategy.The project enabled a competitive new brand to launch that secured retail partnerships with Shoprite and Peoples Trading Centre while increasing smallholder farmer incomes to over $2,311. The initiative underscored Roseberry Farms’ commitment to inclusive agricultural development and its leadership in Malawi’s horticultural value chain.UN IWD in Lilongwe: Leadership Reflections and Strategic CallsIn Lilongwe, the UN International Women’s Day celebrations featured UN women leaders, representatives of women traditional leaders, and notable women from the banking and private sectors.During a high-powered panel discussion, the UNDP Resident Representative, Ms Fenella Frost, shared success stories of women entrepreneurs supported by UNDP’s private sector initiatives. In her remarks, she said:“I cannot hide both my excitement seeing women growing in the business sector and my disappointment seeing that their businesses are not yet growing to big corporations and traders.”She emphasised the need for collaborative strategies to elevate women-led SMEs, especially as the country pushes toward achieving the 2030 Agenda and fulfilling commitments under the Beijing Platform for Action.The UNFPA Resident Representative, Ms Nelida Rodrigues, emphasised the importance of empowering young girls to realise their full potential and to make informed choices regarding their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). She addressed structural and traditional barriers such as teenage pregnancies and underage marriages, which remain prevalent in Malawi and the SADC region, with a child marriage rate of 37%, a slight reduction from the previous assessment. She highlighted the newly adopted Ending Child Marriage Strategy (2024), which aims to reduce child marriages by 20 per cent through initiatives that promote girls’ education, transform harmful social norms, and strengthen legal protections.She stated:“It starts at the lower stages of life of the Malawian girls, just like any girl globally. If most girls are not able to make good choices or access comprehensive sexuality education, teenage pregnancies and underage marriages will remain a huge barrier to the realisation of the girls’ full potential to contribute to this world’s leadership spaces.”Traditional Leadership and Positive Cultural ChangeGroup Village Head Zilanie Gondwe, a former leader in the tourism industry and now a traditional leader, shared her efforts in promoting safe spaces for girls and women. She underscored using positive traditional norms as a long-term approach to transform societal stereotypes about women in leadership.She also acknowledged that fellow women's traditional leaders and male chiefs actively promote gender equality and lead transformative change in their communities.Mentorship and Inspiration: Women Lifting WomenThe Deputy CEO of NBS, the UN Women Resident Representative, and a female representative from the Reserve Bank of Malawi shared inspiring stories of how mentorship played a vital role in shaping their careers. Ms Letty Chiwara, UN Women's Resident Representative, recounted:“One time in Turkey, I met a woman who happily greeted me, saying I inspired her back in Zimbabwe. She had grown into a big trader and was always grateful for my motivational coaching and mentorship, which inspired her to grow in the business sector. I was shocked to see she could remember me from several years back and hear that my mentorship helped her to challenge all odds in the business sector and excel in life.”Ms Temwani Simwaka, Deputy CEO of NBS, emphasised that mentorship remains one of the key strategies for unlocking the potential of young girls in the workplace and supporting them in pursuing bigger dreams.A Reserve Bank of Malawi representative, Ms Hema Honde, shared how the NBS Deputy CEO inspired her journey, from Personal Assistant to Head of Public Relations, through resilience, continued education, and career growth. UNDP Showcases Women-Led Enterprise SupportSome examples of women-led enterprises supported by UNDP include:1. Drone Link – Rachel KumwendaUNDP invested $40,000 through the Growth Accelerator Project, which was matched with a $12,000 contribution from the entrepreneur.Founded in 2021 by Rachel Kumwenda, a University of Malawi graduate, Drone Link is a female-led tech start-up offering affordable, efficient geospatial data services through drones and digital tools. The company has worked with clients such as UNICEF and GLOBE, mapped over 270 hectares, and introduced STEM training in drone operations, robotics, and coding.2. Estrell Trading – Ms. Cecelia RiceUnder Malawi Innovation Challenge Fund (MICF) Round 4, Estrell Trading Ltd received a $311,938 grant to develop a groundnut supply chain and produce peanut butter sachets for low-income households. Between 2019 and 2022, the project engaged 2,500 smallholder farmers (63% women), sourced 144MT of groundnuts, and created 50 jobs. Estrell launched 150g and 400g sachets, sold over 1.4 million units, and earned MK432 million (US$421,000) in revenue.3. Mtende Women’s Cooperative – Elesia KaluaOver 200 rural women were supported in business management, entrepreneurship, and clean energy use.Elesia Kalua, Chairperson of Mtende Women Cooperative, said:“In the beginning, our spouses and community used to ridicule us and say we could not run successful businesses being women. However, they were surprised that following the training we got, we run successful businesses and have been able to support our families – now our spouses and community provide more support while others come along for us to train them in what we learnt – we have trained over 150 more women who are now operating several businesses as well and with improved livelihoods. We appreciate UNDP support through this project, and we are asking for the project to continue – we are growing to high levels – next, you will see us buying a bread van to deliver our products to several sites – we are unstoppable.”The Power of SisterhoodThe IWD 2025 celebrations reinforced the message from UN Assistant Secretary-General Ahunna Eziakonwa during the IWD 2024 Gender Equality High-Level Dialogue:Women leaders have the responsibility to support and mentor young women and girls to realise their full potential.This year's events echoed that powerful call—underscoring the importance of collaboration, mentorship, and strategic investment to break barriers and accelerate progress toward gender equality by 2030.

“I used to be shy. I didn’t think girls like me could speak up.”That was before Evelyn Chittah found her voice—and a mobile platform that changed everything. Just a year ago, Evelyn was shy. The kind of girl who avoided eye contact when adults spoke and only whispered answers in class. “I used to think some things were not meant to be talked about,” she admits. “Especially periods. Especially by girls.”That changed the day she discovered the 321 platform, a mobile information service provided through UNFPA through the Technology and Empowerment Enhancing Networks in Safe Spaces. Curious, Evelyn began browsing the eight available topics using her mother’s old phone. Two topics immediately stood out: menstrual hygiene and gender.“I kept going back to those two,” she says, “because they speak directly to what we girls go through.”A Spark IgnitedThrough short, digestible messages, Evelyn learned how menstruation works, how to manage it safely, and why conversations around gender equality matter. She began attending her community’s weekly Safe Space sessions, held in a small classroom within the community. But Evelyn didn’t just sit and listen. She stepped up.“She was quiet at first,” recalls the session facilitator, Memory Banda. “Then one day, she raised her hand—and she never stopped talking after that.”Becoming a Voice for OthersEvelyn now leads discussions during the Safe Space gatherings. She shares what she learns with girls in her neighbourhood and even speaks to parents when necessary. “I talk to my friends about periods and how we can take care of ourselves. Some didn’t even know some of the things I shared,” she says, her voice tinged with pride.Her home, a modest brick house on the outskirts of the village, has become an informal hub for conversations. Sometimes, younger girls stop by after school to ask questions they’re too shy to raise in public.Even as attendance at Safe Space sessions has dipped—due to school exams and upcoming graduations—Evelyn remains consistent. She passionately shares the 321 platform with peers in her community, helping them to connect with reliable information and empowering them to expand their knowledge.  Quiet Fights, Big DreamsBut her journey hasn’t been without friction. In a place where many still see topics like menstruation and gender rights as taboo, Evelyn sometimes faces resistance.“Some boys laugh when we talk,” she says. “Even some teachers don’t take it seriously.”Still, Evelyn isn’t deterred. If anything, she wants more.“We need more safe spaces to expand the reach of these platforms,” she says, “alongside regular awareness campaigns to ensure communities not only access them, but truly understand how to use them.”A Generation RisingEvelyn’s story reflects the core mission of the TEENS project: using digital tools to empower girls in under-resourced communities. Through platforms like WhatsApp chatbots and the 321 mobile service, girls like Evelyn are gaining not only access to knowledge—but the confidence to use it.“She’s a role model now,” says Memory. “She speaks up—and that makes others feel like they can too.”As the sun sets over Machinga and the children head home from school, Evelyn returns to her books. She still dreams of becoming a teacher someday. But for now, she’s already doing something just as powerful: she’s teaching by example.

Theme: Hate Speech and Artificial Intelligence18 June 2025 - As Malawi joins the global community in observing the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, the United Nations in Malawi calls for renewed vigilance and collective action to confront the growing threat of hate speech, both online and offline, especially as the nation prepares for its general elections in September 2025.The danger of hate speech is real, and its consequences are profound. In Malawi, as in many countries, the spread of hateful rhetoric often intensifies during election periods, exploiting political, ethnic, regional, gender, and religious differences. In recent years, the country has witnessed incidents of hate speech targeting political opponents, journalists, women, persons with albinism, and other vulnerable groups, both on traditional platforms and increasingly through social media. Left unchecked, these narratives can fuel division, incite violence, and undermine peace, stability, and democratic processes.This year’s theme draws attention to the new frontier of this challenge: Artificial Intelligence (AI). Hate speech now travels faster and farther than ever before, amplified by digital algorithms and unregulated online spaces. AI and social media platforms risk becoming vehicles for toxic content and harassment if not guided by strong human rights safeguards.Malawi’s Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, but this freedom must be exercised with responsibility. The Electronic Transactions and Cybersecurity Act of 2016 provides a legal framework to address unlawful online behaviour, but combating hate speech requires more than legislation. It demands a whole-of-society approach.The 2024 Summit of the Future produced the Global Digital Compact, which provides a global roadmap for governing digital spaces, including the responsible use of AI. The United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech offers guidance for all actors, including government, civil society, media, and tech companies, to respond to and prevent the escalation of hateful rhetoric.In the months ahead, as Malawi prepares for its elections, the United Nations calls on all political actors, media houses, civil society organisations, youth groups, traditional leaders, and citizens to reject hate speech in all its forms. Elections should be a celebration of democracy, not a trigger for division and fear.As the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres reminds us: “Hate speech is poison in the well of society. It has paved the way for violence and atrocity during the darkest chapters of human history. Ethnic and religious minorities often bear the brunt – facing discrimination, exclusion and harm.”The United Nations stands ready to continue supporting Malawi in building inclusive, respectful, and peaceful discourse as part of strengthening democratic governance and safeguarding human rights. Together, let us reaffirm our commitment to stand against hate, protect the dignity of all, and ensure that Malawi’s democratic journey remains peaceful, respectful, and just for every citizen. (Ends)For media queries Bennet Phunyanya, Associate Communications Office, United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO) | Email: bennet.phunyanya@undp.org 

During humanitarian crises, vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, face heightened risks of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH). Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH) is not just a policy obligation but a humanitarian imperative. Addressing these risks requires proactive, community-rooted interventions that empower local actors and foster a culture of accountability.Building Capacity in Refugee CampsOne of the key interventions in recent efforts to combat SEAH has been the targeted training of frontline workers in refugee settings. In collaboration with Ministry of Gender, WHO Malawi conducted a two-day PSEAH training in Nyamithuthu Settlement Camp and Tengani Transit Centre for 77 frontline workers (10 Ministry of Health Surveillance Assistants, 29 Health Committee volunteers and 38 PSEAH/GBV Committee volunteers).  These individuals were equipped with the knowledge to identify, prevent, and respond to incidents of SEAH, and to support survivors through referral pathways and access to essential services.This training emphasized:Understanding the meaning of SEAHRecognizing power imbalances and their role in SEAHEthical and survivor-centered reporting mechanismsConfidentiality, empathy, and appropriate service referralCommunity outreach strategies to raise awareness and build trustBy empowering volunteers and healthcare workers, the initiative ensured that prevention and response mechanisms are embedded at the grassroots level—where they are most urgently needed.Engaging Community Gatekeepers in Emergency-Prone DistrictsEqually vital is the role of traditional, religious leaders and other community leaders, who are often the first point of contact for community concerns and can shape attitudes and behaviors. In another significant effort, 198 traditional, religious and other community leaders across five emergency-prone districts (Phalombe, Munanje, Neno, Machinga and Mangochi underwent a full day orientation on PSEAH. These leaders were engaged in dialogue about their role in preventing SEAH and promoting dignity, equity, and justice within their communities. Their involvement contributes to:Destigmatizing discussions around SEAHEncouraging community members to report abuse without fearPromoting zero tolerance of sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian actorsStrengthening community-based protection networksBy integrating these trusted figures into the protection framework, communities are more likely to adopt PSEAH principles as shared values rather than imposed policies.Toward a Survivor-Centered, Community-Driven Approach for gender equalityThese two examples highlight a growing recognition that PSEAH must be integrated into all facets of emergency response. Whether through health workers in refugee camps or traditional leaders in at-risk districts, the key lies in creating trusted, informed, and capable community actors who can act quickly and compassionately.PSEAH is not only about preventing harm but also about restoring dignity and safety in the most trying circumstances. As humanitarian crises continue to unfold around the world, efforts like these serve as a model for how to engage, educate, and empower those on the frontlines to protect the most vulnerable.