Every Voice, Every Vote: WOLREC and Oxfam Are Reshaping Local Democracy in Malawi

From village councils in Rumphi to the ballot box in Machinga, a joint EU-funded project is putting women, youth and persons with disabilities at the centre of decision-making.

Across Malawi, a quiet but powerful shift is taking place in how communities govern themselves. Through the Promoting Gender Transformative and Youth Inclusive Democracy Project, WOLREC and Oxfam in Malawi, with support from the European Union, are working district by district to ensure that women, young people and persons with disabilities are not just present in local governance spaces, but leading within them.

Building Confident Leaders in Rumphi

In Rumphi District, the project is investing directly in people. Members of Area Development Committees (ADCs) and Village Development Committees (VDCs) — many of them women, youth and persons with disabilities — are receiving hands-on training in leadership and assertiveness, alongside practical skills in governance, accountability, participatory planning, financial management, resource mobilisation, and gender and social inclusion.

Of the 31 ADCs targeted by the project, 10 committees have already completed training, and the impact is already visible. Committee members have openly reflected on gaps in how planning was previously carried out, and have committed to ensuring that women, youth and persons with disabilities play an active role in accessing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), shaping local development priorities, and holding leaders accountable.

Confronting Political Interference in Dedza

In Dedza District, the project has extended its capacity-building work to ADC members across several Traditional Authorities, helping local structures govern with greater independence and integrity.

“Political influence often leads committees to make decisions that do not reflect the needs of communities. ADCs must put in place strategies that enable them to make independent and sound decisions.”

— Vincent Kalawa, Nice Public Trust Programmes Manager, speaking at a training in Mtakataka, Dedza District

Eric Kombe, Community Development Assistant for Traditional Authority Tambala, echoed the importance of sustained investment in local capacity, stressing that continuous training equips community structures to participate meaningfully in development activities and to champion equal representation in governance.

Mobilising Voters Ahead of the Machinga By-Elections

The project's reach extends beyond committee rooms and into the heart of the electoral process itself. Ahead of the 30 June 2026 by-elections in Machinga District's Mikoko Constituency and Kanjuli Ward, WOLREC brought together traditional leaders, faith leaders, women and youth groups in Nsanama to encourage citizens to actively take part in the vote.

“Women and young people must rise above the barriers that continue to limit their participation in leadership.”

— Paramount Chief Kawinga

WOLREC Programme Officer Irene Ntonga added her voice to the call, emphasising the need to recognise women as capable leaders and to strengthen civic education in the run-up to elections.

A Peaceful, Inclusive Election Day

On election day, WOLREC monitored the by-election process at selected polling centres across Machinga District. The findings were encouraging: voting was conducted peacefully and in an orderly manner, and election officials effectively managed minor technical challenges, including temporary glitches with Biometric Voter Verification machines.

The monitoring exercise also recorded strong voter turnout and meaningful inclusion of persons with disabilities, several of whom received assistance to cast their ballots — a small but significant marker of a more accessible democratic process.

A Democracy Where Every Voice Matters

From leadership training in Rumphi to the polling stations of Machinga, the Promoting Gender Transformative and Youth Inclusive Democracy Project is demonstrating what inclusive governance can look like in practice. As Malawi continues to strengthen its democratic institutions, WOLREC remains committed to building governance systems that reflect the full diversity of the communities they serve.

Together, WOLREC, Oxfam in Malawi and the European Union are helping build a democracy where every voice matters, and no one is left behind.

Promoting Gender Transformative and Youth Inclusive Democracy Project | Implemented by WOLREC in partnership with Oxfam in Malawi | Funded by the European Union