In Champhira, Mzimba, the air hums steadily with the low sound of bees. Beneath the shade of Msangu trees, young farmer Levi Kaunda gently lifts a frame of honeycomb from a hive. His movements are careful and calm. For him, the bees are more than just insects; they are teachers.“These are God-given, and there are a lot of lessons we can learn from bees,” he says. “When you look at bees, they do a lot of work and also with calm, something that we as humans sometimes fail to do, to carry out our work with calm and hard work, and with time and togetherness.”Levi is a member of the Zandonda and Tupwenge cooperatives in Champhira Extension Planning Area, under the Traditional Authority Mwabulabo. He is among the young farmers whose lives have been transformed through the Empowering Women and Youth in Agriculture (EWAYA) project, implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture in partnership with UNDP and FAO, and funded by the Government of Flanders. EWAYA aims to empower women and young people to treat agriculture as a business and to build sustainable livelihoods in Mzimba and Kasungu Districts.A New Mindset for Youth and WomenBefore EWAYA, Levi recalls, youth were rarely invited into leadership or decision-making. Farming felt like something left for older generations.“We are grateful for the EWAYA project — it has helped us a lot as it has been different from other projects,” he explains. “Other projects did not focus on women and youth. As you know, our country’s population is mostly women and youth, so when making decisions, it is important that they take part. With the coming in of this project EWAYA, it has helped us a lot as women and youth.”Through the project, Levi and other young farmers have taken leading roles in their cooperatives, managing hives, organising meetings, and keeping production records. The training has also changed how they relate to the environment.“Youth were not considered for decision-making or leading roles,” he says. “But with EWAYA, through the trainings, we have learnt that youth can be leaders and take part. We, the youth, have taken leading roles in our groups and in honey production, which also helps conserve the environment we used to destroy. With this project, we are now helping to conserve it. The same with women — in the past they were sidelined, but now they are taking part in decision-making and leadership.”Farming as a BusinessEWAYA teaches practical entrepreneurship — marketing, bookkeeping, and value addition. Levi remembers how they used to sell honey in old bottles, unaware of hygiene or branding standards.“This project has benefited us a lot,” he says. “We have been taught how to keep bees, and from this farming, we get a lot of benefits. At first, we thought it was just honey we got, but we have also learnt that we can make manure and wax, which we sell to our friends.”“We have been given machines which help us hygienically harvest honey, so our customers are satisfied. In the past, we used to harvest it from used bottles, but with the coming of this project, we have moved away from that. We have learnt that we must package our honey in well-labelled and clean bottles that indicate what is inside so that our customers should not have any doubts.”For the first time, the cooperatives are now producing, processing, and packaging their honey locally, an important step towards scaling up.“Looking forward, we really want to sell our products in large outlets since we can harvest and package in a hygienic manner and sell in towns to make more profits,” Levi says. “We have put in place measures to ensure that when the project phases out, we continue. We will take care of the materials we have received and use them for a long time, and the training will help us to continue.”He pauses, then adds quietly:“I am different now. I have gained skills from this project. We are moving with Vision 2063, which we want to achieve by making farming a business. We are encouraging youth to change their mindset, and this project is doing that.”Veronica’s Field of Hope A short walk away, in Msontha Village, Veronica Nyirongo tends to two goats grazing beside her garden. She smiles when she speaks of them — they represent her progress.“My friends had livestock and I wanted to have my own, but the means to get them could not be found,” she says. “But with the coming in of EWAYA in 2024, they came with beans. At Tupenge Cooperative, there were 30 of us, and everyone received eight kilograms of beans and five kilograms of fertiliser. I planted in my garden, applied fertiliser, and the beans did well. I harvested three buckets and sold two of them. After selling, I bought two goats, as you can see.”Generous by nature, she also shared her harvest.The other bucket I shared with two of my farming friends — I gave them five kilograms each, while I kept ten kilograms, which I planted again. Looking at EWAYA, I can say it has benefited me. I managed to buy goats, which I didn’t have before. I used to envy my friends, but now I even have chickens. With the last harvest, I have many chickens at home,” she says.Her confidence grew through training sessions organised under the project.“During trainings, they taught us to follow modern farming techniques and apply the fertiliser received, but also practice crop rotation,” she says. “Right now, I have planted beans again in my garden, and I want to buy fertiliser to apply so I can harvest more.”For Veronica, women’s participation is essential.“It is important that women take part in this project. It is us who encounter problems most of the times. That is why we meet at the cooperative with the same goal, to make sure everyone takes part in the business.”She looks around at her goats and chickens and sums it up simply.“I am just grateful for the project of EWAYA. I would not have had the goats or chickens — I would still be envying my friends. But since I decided to take part in the project, that is why the goats are there, yes.”Stronger Farmers, Better FuturesAcross Mzimba and Kasungu, EWAYA is now supporting more than 1,400 farmers, 73 per cent of them women and youth. Through 14 Farmer Organizations, the project is strengthening value chains in honey, beans, tomatoes, and poultry, while helping farmers adopt climate-smart agriculture — from organic manure to improved seed varieties and sustainable irrigation.Extension officers trained under the project are guiding farmers to treat agriculture as an enterprise, linking them to markets, and promoting the Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) approach, which identifies markets before production.These initiatives are contributing to Malawi 2063’s vision of inclusive wealth creation and sustainable agriculture. Communities like Champhira are now seeing youth step into leadership, women reinvest in their households, and families practise conservation farming that restores the environment.“We are changing our mindset,” Levi says. “We are now seeing farming as business, not just survival. And we are doing it together, men, women, and youth.”Partnerships That Make the DifferenceThe transformation in Champhira shows the strength of teamwork. The EWAYA project is carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) funded by the Government of Flanders. Together, these partners are making sure that smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, acquire the skills, tools, and opportunities they need to thrive. As the sun sets behind the Mzimba hills, Levi seals another jar of golden honey and smiles. “Farming is our business now,” Levi says. “The bees are our teachers, and the land is our classroom.”About EWAYAThe Empowering Women and Youth in Agriculture (EWAYA) project is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with funding from the Government of Flanders. It strengthens agricultural value chains in Mzimba and Kasungu, helping women and youth to increase productivity, add value, and access profitable markets.EWAYA is part of Malawi’s journey toward Malawi 2063 — Agricultural Productivity and Commercialisation, ensuring that every farmer, like Levi and Veronica, can turn effort into enterprise and hope into growth.

When Cyclone Freddy struck Malawi in early 2023, it left a trail of destruction that uprooted thousands of families. Homes were washed away, farmland submerged, and livelihoods shattered. Many survivors were forced to relocate to temporary sites in districts like Chikwawa and Chiradzulu, where life has been far from easy. These sites often lack basic services, leaving families to start over with limited resources and uncertain futures. For many, the daily struggle includes walking long distances to collect firewood, cooking outdoors in harsh conditions, and living in the dark due to lack of electricity. These challenges compound the trauma of displacement, making recovery slow and difficult. To ease this burden, under the Just Energy Transition Project (JETP) funded by the Joint SDG Fund, IOM distributed 530 energy-efficient cook-stoves to households in Champhanda, Matsukambiya, Chikuse and Mussa relocation sites. These stoves are more than tools, they represent relief and dignity. By reducing the amount of biomass used, they help protect forests, cut harmful emissions, and ease the strain on families already coping with loss. For Mercy Singano from Chikuse Relocation Site, the impact is immediate: “Life in a relocation site can be challenging because it doesn’t feel like home. Cooking is familiar, but even that is hard, we fetch firewood daily and cook outside, which is difficult during the rainy season. These stoves will make a big difference. They’re easy to carry and store, require less firewood, and allow us to cook under shelter when it rains.”  IOM also launched and handed over the Champhanda Solar Mini-Grid, a system designed to provide clean, reliable electricity to displaced households. This achievement followed rigorous technical assessments, design, construction and installation and regulatory compliance checks by the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA), ensuring that IOM delivers a product that technically meets regulatory standards for safety and sustainability. “Before the mini-grid, nights were dark and full of worry, and this open space gets so dark as you can imagine. My children couldn’t study after sunset, and we relied on candles that were expensive and unsafe. Now, with electricity in our home, everything has changed. My wife can cook without rushing before dark, my children can read and dream bigger, and we feel safer. It feels like home.” Said Phillip Emmanuel whose house was connected to the solar mini-grid.   The handover event brought together community leaders, district authorities, and national stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Energy and the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA). Speeches from government officials and IOM’s Chief of Mission underscored the importance of energy access for resilience and inclusive development. In his remarks, the representative of the District Commissioner for Chikwawa said: “This mini-grid is not just about electricity, it is about restoring dignity and creating opportunities for families who have lost so much. Energy access means children can study at night, businesses can grow, and communities can thrive. Alina Zalewski who represented IOM Chief of Mission reaffirmed IOM’s commitment to providing solutions to displaced people saying: “The Just Energy Transition Project is a commitment to sustainable solutions. By combining renewable energy with clean cooking technologies, we are helping communities rebuild stronger and greener. This is resilience in action.” These efforts go beyond infrastructure, they symbolize hope, resilience, and a commitment to sustainable solutions for communities displaced by climate disasters. By combining renewable energy with clean cooking technologies, IOM is helping families rebuild their lives while protecting the environment.  Malawi faces increasing climate shocks, and relocation sites often lack basic services. Initiatives like these demonstrate how community-centered, climate-resilient solutions can transform lives, reducing vulnerability, restoring hope, and paving the way for a sustainable future. The Just Energy Transition Project (JETP), funded by the Joint SDG Fund and implemented by IOM and UNHCR in partnership with national and district authorities, seeks to deliver clean, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions to households displaced by climate-related disasters.  

The Government of Malawi and the United Nations entered a new phase of strategic cooperation on 25 February 2026, when senior leaders convened in Lilongwe for the inaugural Government–United Nations Partnership Dialogue. Co‑chaired by the Honourable Dr. George T. Chaponda, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Ms. Rebecca Adda‑Dontoh, the UN Resident Coordinator in Malawi, the meeting brought together Cabinet ministers, senior government officials, heads of UN agencies, and technical experts for nearly three hours of candid, forward‑looking engagement designed to reshape the way Malawi and the UN work together.Setting the Tone: A Call for Partnership and TransformationIn his opening remarks, Dr. Chaponda expressed sincere appreciation to the UN and development partners, recalling that “in times of climate shocks, public health emergencies, food insecurity and macroeconomic distress, you have stood by us. Your unwavering support has saved lives, strengthened institutions and preserved hope.” Yet, he noted that Malawi is at a turning point. Guided by its long-term vision, Malawi 2063, the nation is now determined to shift “from dependence to resilience, from vulnerability to productivity and from short-term relief to long-term sustainability.” The UN’s Perspective: A Global System Under PressureMs. Adda‑Dontoh opened her address by noting the gravity of the occasion, declaring, “This is not an ordinary meeting: it is a deliberate choice to act together when Malawi and the world require leadership anchored in cooperation, coherence and courage.” She explained that global pressures, geopolitical tensions, declining development finance, climate shocks and sweeping reforms across the UN system under UN80 and UN 2.0, are reshaping how multilateral institutions operate. These reforms, she said, are intended to make the UN “a more agile, integrated and results-driven institution,” better able to deliver more impact with fewer resources. Despite these pressures, she assured Malawi of the UN’s steadfast commitment, saying, “The United Nations reaffirms our steadfast commitment to walk this journey with Malawi, as a trusted partner, an accountable partner, and a partner fully committed to shaping a better future together.” The Core Themes of the DialogueThe Dialogue focused on aligning cooperation with Malawi’s development vision, improving coordination and institutional efficiency, and ensuring that global UN reforms translate into more coherent support at the country level. Government and the UN examined how to optimise strategic engagement through clear principles and modalities; how to strengthen Malawi’s position within a rapidly evolving development financing landscape; and how to ensure that ongoing UN reforms enhance responsiveness, reduce fragmentation and reinforce national ownership. The conversation affirmed the need for a results-oriented partnership supported by strong accountability mechanisms and streamlined coordination structures.Malawi’s Priorities in a Changing Development LandscapeThe Government outlined its priority development and financing needs, ranging from energy, irrigation, transport, water and digital infrastructure to human capital development, skills, healthcare, nutrition and social protection. It emphasised the importance of strengthening public financial management, enhancing domestic revenue collection and gaining greater capacity to negotiate natural resource contracts, diversify exports, and advance industrialisation. The UN reaffirmed its commitment to aligning programmes closely with these national priorities and improving system-wide coherence.Honest Reflection and Shared ResponsibilityThe meeting also provided space for candid reflection on implementation challenges. Progress under the first 10-year plan of Malawi 2063 (MIP‑1) has been slow. Both sides acknowledged shared responsibility for bottlenecks, including bureaucratic delays, weak administrative systems, limited follow-through and the dispersal of resources across too many priorities. They also examined inefficiencies in development cooperation, including high project implementation costs and coordination challenges caused by multiple agencies approaching ministries independently.Agreements and a New Framework for ActionDespite the challenges, the Dialogue resulted in substantive agreements. The government and the UN endorsed a Concept Note outlining a revitalised partnership framework built on strategic alignment, operational efficiency, institutional capacity development, increased global influence for Malawi, and strong accountability mechanisms. They agreed to establish a Joint Working Group to oversee implementation, create a Permanent Technical Support Unit to improve Malawi’s global engagement and develop a Joint Prioritisation Framework to focus resources on high-impact interventions. Concrete measures were also agreed to strengthen public sector capacity, improve efficiency and track progress through a performance dashboard.Closing Commitments: From Dialogue to DeliveryConcluding the session, Dr. Chaponda described the Dialogue as “candid, forward-looking, and solution-oriented” and reiterated Malawi’s resolve to turn commitments into action, saying, “Our main task is straightforward, but demanding, namely to ensure that the agreements that we have reached today are operationalised with clear responsibilities, timelines and follow-up mechanisms.” Ms. Adda‑Dontoh echoed this message, stating, “The value of today’s dialogue will ultimately be measured by what happens next.” She reaffirmed that the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework remains the vehicle for translating commitments into measurable results and closed with the Secretary‑General’s call that “We must rise to this moment,” adding, “Today, through this Dialogue, we choose to rise together.”A Renewed Partnership Rooted in Ambition and AccountabilityBy the time the meeting adjourned, the Government and the UN had demonstrated their determination to transform the Dialogue from a once-off event into an institutionalized platform. What emerged was a renewed spirit of trust, shared responsibility and joint ambition, one that positions the Government of Malawi and the United Nations as aligned partners working with clarity, coherence and purpose toward the realisation of Malawi 2063.