Gender mainstreaming is a necessity in Malawi, where women account for more than half of the population yet are underrepresented in economic and leadership roles. Emerge Livelihoods, formerly Mzuzu Entrepreneur Hub, is a non-profit organisation that promotes a thriving ecosystem and helps to increase the self-reliance of individuals and communities in Malawi and beyond.
Emerge Livelihoods employs transformative approaches to empower individuals and communities with equal opportunities for transitioning into more stable and sustainable livelihoods. As an organisation, we incorporated gender equity into the core fabric of our programmes. This isn’t just a token gesture. It’s a game-changing strategy that reshapes livelihoods, strengthens households, and redefines opportunity.
Through our new initiative, SheEmerge, we align gender equity, rural-urban inclusion, Leadership, and climate resilience through targeted programming that ensures broad-based participation. In line with our 2024-2029 Strategic Plan, the initiative aims for 60% female participation by the end of each year.
One highlighted example is Emerge Livelihoods’ collaboration with the Zantchito Entrepreneurship and Access to Finance Program, launched in 2023 across Malawi with support from UNDP and the European Union. Zantchito offers phased business incubation, encompassing idea development, training, mentorship, and access to finance, for youth and women entrepreneurs across Malawi. Already, it has formalised 50 businesses and helped prototype 30 ideas for viable products. This integrated approach exemplifies SheEmerge’s aim of an inclusive entrepreneurship that empowers women and strengthens local economies.
Our organisation works in a variety of sectors, including education, sustainable entrepreneurship, livelihood development, digital transformation, environmental and natural resource management, and gender and social inclusion, with a particular emphasis on empowering women and marginalised groups.
Every effort begins with a gender-sensitive assessment to ensure that interventions are relevant to real-life situations. We guarantee that no one is left behind by designing programmes that fit our value of Inclusion. An example of this is how, through projects like DOT’s The Going Beyond and Green Jobs for Adolescents and Youth, nannies are hired for young mothers so that they continue to participate in the programme activities, or they are encouraged to bring a guardian to watch over the baby while the mother is occupied.
Malawi’s development blueprint, which is linked with SDG 5, asks for aggressive action. Emerge Livelihoods responds to that appeal, not with words, but with results. By integrating gender into all aspects of its business, it provides a model for inclusive growth that others might follow. From March 2024 to February 2025, Emerge Livelihoods achieved a female participation rate of up to 50.1% across its programs, with over 1,573 young entrepreneurs trained in digital business, and 294 employment opportunities generated. These are more than simply numbers; they are stories of perseverance, agency, and transformation. Reference to our annual report.
Collaboration is crucial; we collaborate with organisations such as WUSC, Save the Children International, Digital Opportunity Trust, the Segal Family Foundation, the UNDP, GIZ, and the European Union to share information, co-design projects, and advocate for policy reform. Through these collaborations, the organisation has implemented techniques such as gender responsiveness, which has expanded our reach and effectiveness.
One of our core values is inclusiveness, and we foster an environment in which everyone can experience a sense of belonging and fully engage in leadership development. Every project is designed to break down barriers and create resilience. Our approach is consistent with SDG 5, which promotes gender equality and empowers all women and girls.
Meanwhile, our service charter on gender equity isn’t a checkbox; it’s a commitment. Emerge Livelihoods is showing that when women rise, communities thrive. Let’s mainstream equality, one programme, one partnership, one empowered woman at a time.
