Beyond the Project: Women in TA Maliri Continue to Sustain Community-Led Development
WOLREC’s engagement with rural women in Lilongwe demonstrates the lasting value of empowering women to lead change in their communities.
Long after a development project comes to an end, its impact can be seen in the knowledge communities continue to apply, the initiatives they sustain and their determination to address challenges affecting their lives.
This is the spirit reflected in the continued efforts of women who participated in a project implemented by the Women’s Legal Resources Centre (WOLREC) in Traditional Authority Maliri, Lilongwe District. WOLREC Executive Director, Maggie Kathewera Banda, recently visited the women to learn about their progress and see how they have continued their sustainability efforts beyond the project’s implementation period.
The visit provided an opportunity to reconnect with the women, appreciate their continued commitment and reflect on the importance of community ownership in sustaining development gains.
Empowering women to drive change
Through its work with rural women’s groups, WOLREC has sought to strengthen women’s knowledge, confidence and capacity to participate in community development and demand accountability from those responsible for providing public services.
The project, Empowering Rural Women’s Groups to Demand Implementation of Social Policies at Local and National Levels in Malawi, was implemented from October 2018 to September 2021 with support from Bread for the World.
Using the REFLECT approach, women were supported to come together, identify challenges affecting their communities, develop action plans and engage traditional leaders, government departments and other duty bearers to advocate for solutions.
The approach recognised that women are not merely recipients of development assistance. They are rights holders with the knowledge, experience and ability to identify their communities’ priorities and take collective action towards addressing them.
Sustaining progress beyond the project
The continued engagement of the women in TA Maliri highlights an important aspect of sustainable development: the value of equipping communities with skills and approaches they can continue using beyond a project's lifespan.
Rather than viewing the end of project activities as the end of their development journey, the women have continued their efforts, demonstrating the importance of local ownership, collective responsibility and commitment to lasting change.
For WOLREC, the visit was an opportunity to appreciate these ongoing efforts and recognise the role that empowered women’s groups can play in maintaining momentum around community development.
Sustainability is not simply about whether an activity continues after external support ends. It is also about whether people retain the confidence to organise themselves, identify solutions to their challenges and take responsibility for the progress they want to see.
Investing in women for lasting impact
WOLREC’s engagement with the women in TA Maliri reinforces the importance of community-led development approaches that place women at the centre of decision-making and action.
When women are equipped with knowledge, opportunities to participate and the confidence to engage with local leadership, the benefits can extend beyond the duration of a funded project. Women can continue to contribute to community priorities, strengthen local initiatives and inspire collective action.
The experience in TA Maliri reflects WOLREC’s commitment to supporting women to exercise their rights, participate meaningfully in development processes and contribute to lasting change in their communities.
As WOLREC continues its work to advance women’s rights and empowerment, the efforts of women who carry forward their initiatives beyond project completion serve as an important reminder: sustainable change is strongest when communities have the knowledge, ownership and determination to keep it going.
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