Women's participation in politics and decision-making in Malawi remains very low. In parliament, women make up only 16.5%, and in local councils, just 11%. In the public sector, only 24% of decision-making roles are held by women. By 2014, women principal secretaries accounted for just 23%, compared to 73% for men. By 2024, this dropped further to just 15%. It's clear that creating space for women in decision-making roles is essential.
The existing legal framework, such as the Gender Equality Act (2013), which advocates for gender quotas in recruitment and appointments, presents a key opportunity to improve women's inclusion in the public sector. Similarly, enacting laws to promote women’s participation in the private sector and civil society organizations (CSOs) is also critical.
To address this, NGOGCN will focus on:
a. Creating opportunities for women and girls to engage in politics and decision-making positions at all levels.
b. Empowering women and girls to participate in decision-making across public and private sectors.
Strategic Issue: Women's and youth representation in politics and decision-making roles in both the public and private sectors is alarmingly low in Malawi. Deliberate action is necessary to empower women to enter politics and attain decision-making positions.
Strategic Goal: To increase the representation and participation of women (including young women) in politics and decision-making positions.
i. Strategic Objective 1: Empower women to engage in politics at all levels across Malawi.
ii. Strategic Objective 2: Increase the representation of women in decision-making roles in both the public and private sectors.