As women in the country are still making significant strides in frontline politics, there are higher expectations that a larger number of women will actively contest in the upcoming elections.

This optimism follows the launch of a year-long project on Political Empowerment for women in Malawi, spearheaded by the NGO Gender Network Coordination Network (NGO-GCN with financial support from UN Women.

During the introductory meetings at District level in Ntchisi, Gender Technical Working Groups endorsed the project, expressing high hopes that it will help engage more women across the district to take an active role in the election process.

Welcoming the development, Ephile Juwayeyi Mwangomba, a Gender Specialist from Ntchisi which is one of the Districts where the project is being implemented, shared her excitement that the project would empower more women to run for both Parliamentary and Local Government positions in the upcoming elections.

“I look forward to seeing women actively participate in politics so that they take up issues affecting them to relevant authorities for swift action” Mwangomba highlighted.

Echoing these sentiments, Chikondi Macheso, the Gender Development Officer for Ntchisi District Council emphasized that the project will boost confidence of women to pursue leadership roles, particularly in positions that are mostly headed by men.

“Ntchisi District has one female Local Government Councillor among seven male councillors and one female Member of Parliament among four MPs. For this, the project will enlighten and empower more women to find courage to run for office”, Macheso explained.

The project is being implemented in four Districts namely: Phalombe, Balaka, Ntchisi and Nkhatabay with an aim to support and promote women’s participation in the electoral process.