The World Economic Forum, which reports that Sub-Saharan Africa leads globally in women’s entrepreneurial activity, with 26% of womeninvolved. According to the MasterCard Index of Women Entrepreneurs (MIWE) 2021Countries like Botswana, South Africa, and Ghana rank among the top globally for female-led businesses, supported by formal frameworks. Women represent 58% of Africa’s self-employed population and are more likely than men to become entrepreneurs ; Hence Malawi’s entrepreneurial landscape is ripe with potential, on the other hand female-led startups often struggle with access to capital, training, and markets.
Emerge Livelihoods bridges this gap by providing seed funding, mentorship, and market linkages, helping women turn their dreams into thriving enterprises. According to an analysis by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS),Southern Africa is grappling with an extreme poverty rate of 45.1%, which is the second highest across the continent. In Malawi, structural limitations in the economy, intensifying climate change, and entrenched gender inequalities continue to restrict access to dignified, full-time employment, particularly for young people.
Emerge Livelihoods is driving change by championing transformative, evidence-based solutions. Through strategic support and community-rooted innovation, the organisation (Social Enterprise) equips individuals to become entrepreneurs and changemakers—crafting brighter futures for themselves and revitalising their surroundings.
One of Emerge Livelihoods’ core strategic priorities is gender mainstreamingto drive gender inclusion across all programmes. Through the SheEmerge , we amplify the voices of girls and women—making sure they’re not just participants but co-creators in shaping economic and community development. This feature celebrates Three (3) remarkable women whose ventures are thriving; with Emerge Livelihoods’ programmes for Creating Endless Possibilities for Everyone to Thrive, they demonstrate stories of resilience and the power of inclusive entrepreneurship.
Why Women-Led Startups Matter:UNDP Malawi reports (UNIDO’s 2022) that female-owned enterprises are more likely to reinvest in family and community welfare, and they frequently pioneer climate-conscious innovation. However, constraints such as insufficient credit, training, and networking remain. Emerge Livelihoodsis facing these difficulties straight on by: Providing entrepreneurship capacity building training to; especially youth and women in Malawi and beyond. Collaboration with Village Capital, GIZ Malawi, Save the Children International, and other partners in the past and present; Emerge Livelihoods has provided seed capital funding to over 850 entrepreneurs over the last 7 years to support climate-focused startups. The organisation also offers tailored investment readiness programs for female-led ventures.
Martha Sweetening Livelihoods with Wapakaya Yoghurt.
What began as a simple idea—to create probiotic-rich yogurt that improves good health, has become a thriving enterprise with far-reaching impact. Martha Chilenga, founder of Wapakaya Yoghurt, is not only providing affordable, nutritious options to her community; she’s lifting up women along the way.
Sourcing milk directly from women-led cooperatives, Martha’s brand is now a household name. Her journey gained national recognition as one of the winners of the Kukolola Project, a project implemented by Emerge Livelihoods with the support from the German Development Cooperation – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Malawi, through GOPA-AFC GmbH. The project was implemented under the More Income and Employment in Rural Areas (MIERA II) project from November 2023 to October 2024, aligning with the second phase of the More Income and Employment in Rural Areas Project.
Through Emerge Livelihoods, Martha received:
- Business development training to build a sustainable enterprise
- Market access via pop-up stalls and digital platforms
- Seed funding to scale production and enhance packaging
Martha’s supply network currently serves over 40 households. Despite seasonal challenges, she mentors young women in food innovation, demonstrating perseverance and purpose. “Our mission stays strong—Wapakaya is here to nourish, empower, and grow.” — Martha Chilenga, Founder of Wapakaya Yoghurt.
The Soap Collective: Clean Hands, Clean Futures – Journey with Mirriam Soap Production
Mirriam Domphi is changing the face of entrepreneurship in Rumphi District, from humble beginnings to sustainable influence. In 2023, as a participant in the Zantchito Project under Emerge Livelihoods, she received incubation services from the Zantchito Entrepreneurship and Access to Finance Programme, which is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the European Union. Mirriam Soap Production has become a successful local firm that promotes eco-friendly hygiene products and provides economic opportunity for women in the neighbourhood.
Mirriam’s business has grown by 35% in the last year as a result of the project’s personalised mentorship and hands-on training, extending manufacturing capacityand entering new markets across districts and hotels. Despite rising inflation, Mirriam Domphi maintains her pledge to the community, selling each bar of soap for 700 MWK, reflecting accessibility and care. “Empowerment is more than just possessing abilities; it’s about using them to make a difference. “Zantchito opened the door, and I walked through with purpose.” By Mirriam Domphi, Founder of Mirriam Soap Production.
Rooted in Resilience: Matilda Mlotha’s Vision Through Zomera Fruit Propagation Farm
Matilda Mlotha the founder of Zomera Fruit Propagation Farm said, “itis important women continue to defy the odds, making their work as vital economic contributions with significant women’s business ownerships to Malawi’s agricultural development”. Matilda aims to lessen reliance on imported fruits by cultivating organic, disease-free, and early-maturing seedlings from locally produced resources. Her farm provides planting materials for apples, citrus, bananas, avocado, pears, mangoes, and guavas, promoting nutrition and sustainability from the bottom up.
Matilda invests in people in addition to cultivation. She empowers young Malawians to produce not just crops, but also their futures, by providing specialised horticulture and entrepreneurial training. “We don’t just raise trees—we raise entrepreneurs.”
In 2021, she joined Emerge Livelihoods under the Women in Business program; Since then, she has become a trusted mentor and facilitator,assisting the next generation of changemakers in Emerge programming. Matilda, who is currently representing Malawi in the YALI Mandela Washington Fellowship in America, is working to connect innovation and agricultural opportunities in her community while also aspiring to global leadership.
