In a sunlit hall of Kumbali Country Lodge in Lilongwe from 28th-29th August, 2025, the Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Livelihoods Summit 2025 (SELS2025) opened its doors to diverse entrepreneurs, policy makers, ecosystem builders, diplomats, and development partners; all united by a single mission: to reimagine the future of MSMEs in Malawi and beyond.
Organized by Emerge Livelihoods in partnership with Village Capital and NORAD (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation), the Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Livelihoods summit is more than an event; it’s a declaration. A declaration that Malawi’s micro, small, and medium enterprises are not merely economic units, but engines of climate resilience, inclusive growth, and community transformation.
SELS2025 convened key players from Malawi and across Africa to co-create solutions for MSME growth under the theme “Strengthening the MSME Ecosystem in Malawi and Beyond.” The summit featured strategic plenaries, breakout panels, and masterclasses, a business expo showcase and the launch of a cohort of 30 climate-focused enterprises who will take part in the acceleration stage of the ESEA program.
Highlights from the summit included innovations in agriculture, blue economy, renewable energy, food security, climate adaptation, youth entrepreneurship, and gender inclusion.
SELS2025 reinforced sustainable entrepreneurship as a driver of inclusive growth and environmental resilience by:
- creating a platform for sharing experiences and best practices from Malawi’s socio-economic and environmental organisations (SEEOs) with a focus on sustainability, technology innovation, and inclusivity
- strengthening networks and collaborations between private, public and social sectors towards promoting sustainable entrepreneurship and livelihoods development
- sharing best practices on how Malawi can leverage on socio-economic and environmental advancements for sustainable development across sectors
- showcase MSMEs across Malawi contributing towards sustainable entrepreneurship and livelihoods development.
SELS2025 Spotlights Gender Equality as Key to MSME Growth
A standout moment at the Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Livelihoods Summit 2025 came during the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion session, where Chipaso Nkhonjera, Gender and Targeting Specialist for the Programme for Rural Irrigation Development, delivered a powerful call to action for entrepreneurs.
Nkhonjera introduced the “4 Is” (Inclusion, Influence, Investment, and Impact) and “4 Ps” (Policy, Practice, Participation, and Partnerships) frameworks as essential tools for mainstreaming gender in MSME development. “We must move beyond tokenism,” he urged. “Entrepreneurs need to embed gender equality into every layer of their business model.”
The session explored gender-centric financing models and strategies to unlock capital for climate-led enterprises, emphasizing the role of inclusive entrepreneurship in achieving business growth and beyond.
SELS2025 High-Level Panel Ignites Urgency for Climate Investment in Malawi
The energy was electric at the SELS2025 High-Level Panel, “Bridging the Gap: From Climate Innovation to Investment,” where entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem builders packed the room to tackle one of Malawi’s most pressing challenges: turning climate-smart ideas into investable ventures.
From adaptive agriculture to renewable energy, Malawi’s innovators are brimming with solutions, but the leap from concept to capital remains steep. Nakami Walunywa, Regional Director for Africa at Village Capital, delivered a rallying cry: “Innovation without investment is just imagination. We need to build bridges, not just pitch decks, bridges to connect climate entrepreneurs with the capital they deserve.”
Moderated by Jonathan Nandolo, Programmes Director at Emerge Livelihoods, the panel discussion peeled back the layers of financing barriers and spotlighted alternative models beyond traditional loans. “We’re sharing knowledge as well as capacity building about funding,” Nandolo said. “We’re talking about trust, traction, and transformation. Investors must see the impact before they see the returns.”
Panelists Willson Chivhanga (Thrive Africa) and Martin Masiya (Sollys Energy Limited) shared firsthand insights on navigating the funding maze, urging entrepreneurs to build credibility, partnerships, and data-driven narratives.
The session closed with a clear message: climate ventures in Malawi are ripe for investment, but it will take bold collaboration, inclusive financing, and ecosystem-wide commitment to unlock their full potential. This summit is far from a gathering, it’s a platform. We are here to co-create an ecosystem where MSMEs thrive not in spite of challenges, but because we’ve built resilience into every layer of support.’’ as some participants noted during the summit.
These words resonated deeply, echoed by Japanese Ambassador Mr. Youichi OYA, who emphasized the power of inclusive investment: “Malawi’s MSMEs are the heartbeat of its economy. Strengthening them means unlocking prosperity for all. Let us invest not only in businesses, but in the people behind them.”
Julius Ngoma,Emerge Livelihoods’ board chair and CISONECC‘s National Coordinator, also present at the summit, gave a keynote speech that reframed entrepreneurship as a regenerative force: “Sustainable entrepreneurship is not a luxury; it’s a necessity.”
As you are aware, MSMEs are already the backbone of Malawi’s economy, with new policies and laws such as the MSME Act 2024 in place, as well as a shift in mindset towards doing business now and in the future. Our future is dependent on enterprises that renew communities and ecosystems alike.The Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Livelihoods summit is one of the platforms created to foster a thriving and inclusive ecosystem that will have a transformative impact with our community, aligning with the Emerge Livelihood’s 2024-2029 Strategic Plan. Emerge Livelihoods has already engaged over 100 climate-focused enterprises this year in Malawi through its various programs.
