Outcome MWI_D_1.1

By 2028, people in Malawi, especially women, youth, and those most left behind, experience more inclusive good governance, peace, and robust political and civic participation

In the quest to achieve peace, enhance political and civic participation, and promote inclusive, good governance which effectively serves and engages all people and considers gender and other facets of personal identity, UN Women Malawi Country office accelerated the operationalization of Malawi Peace and Unity Commission (MPUC) and supported Women’s participation in District Peace and Unity Committees (DPUCs) to conduct conflict mediation and sensitization activities. A total of 19 women’s movements, covering 19 Traditional Authority Areas from Mangochi, Machinga, Karonga and Nkhotakota (thus five from Mangochi, Machinga and Karonga and four from Nkhotakota), undertook mediation, supporting the resolution of issues as they emerge to prevent escalation. They have managed to address 372 cases ranging from land disputes (15%), witchcraft accusations (15%), child marriages (48%), violence against women cases (20%), child trafficking (2%). They have also ably undertaken referrals working with the various actors such as police on some cases beyond their mandate, such as rape. For the land disputes, upon resolution, resulted in restoration of grabbed pieces of land to the women victims concerned. Working with traditional leaders and community policing forum the disputes were tabled and resolutions made accordingly. The child marriages were annulled and the girls supported to return to school. For the VAW cases, those reported to police were concluded with the courts where perpetrators were jailed. Only 1 percent of those reported cases are still pending court proceedings while one case was dropped due to incomplete evidence. Children involved in the child trafficking cases were rescued and returned to their families. For the cases involved, the perpetrators fled to Mozambique. Based on their action plans developed during the training sessions held, the women have been active on the ground and conducted 391 sensitisation engagements reaching 61,992 (46,013 Male and 15,979 Female). By December 2025, 5,834 women were activated as drivers of peace in Mangochi, Machinga, Karonga and Nkhotakota. Of these, 2,375 women were trained, and engaged fellow women working with the DPUCs, traditional leaders, police (including community policing), other community structures such as faith leaders, Area Development Committee and Village Development Committees, and fellow women, to sensitise communities on peace and conflict prevention. Total resources used was USD 427,695

By 2028, people in Malawi, especially women, youth, and those most left behind, experience more inclusive good governance, peace, and robust political and civic participation

Overall, progress showed a significant increase in women’s participation and leadership in peace governance and conflict prevention in Malawi. At the national level, female representation stands at 38%, including the Chairperson of the Malawi Peace and Unity Commission, while sub-national District, Area, and City Peace and Unity Committees have an average female composition of 32–35%, including newly constituted committees under the National Peace and Unity Act (2022). Women are actively contributing as mediators, conflict preventers, and peace campaigners, demonstrating meaningful engagement in both national and local decision-making processes. These results were achieved through targeted interventions that strengthened women’s capacities via technical support, training, mentorship, and advocacy, as well as through the mobilization of women’s movement groups and civil society actors to participate in inclusive governance and dialogue. UN Women played a central role by providing technical and financial support, facilitating skills development for women leaders, and promoting gender-responsive programming across peace structures. These efforts have increased women’s visibility, influence, and leadership in peace governance, ensuring that their participation is not only representative but also impactful, contributing to sustained conflict prevention, inclusive decision-making, and strengthened legitimacy of Malawi’s peace architecture