Margarethe Matewere: A Proud Gender Champion Transforming Lives in Salima



Margarethe standing in front of her cattle pen

Margarethe Matewere, a proud gender champion from Chipoka, Salima, is a testament to the transformative power of the Women Economic Empowerment in the Cotton Value Chain (WEECVC) project, implemented by AICC with funding from the Embassy of Sweden through We Effect. Her journey is one of resilience, growth, and empowerment, demonstrating how knowledge and determination can change lives.

Margarethe began her cotton farming journey in 2007, but despite her hard work, she struggled to make enough profit to sustain her household. The lack of proper farming techniques and market linkages eventually forced her to abandon cotton farming. However, when AICC introduced the WEECVC project, everything changed. She received training in good agricultural practices, equipping her with the skills needed to maximize her cotton yields. As she applied these new techniques, Margarethe began witnessing significant improvements in her harvests, rekindling her passion for cotton farming.


LINLY ULEDI: CULTIVATING SUCCESS THROUGH INNOVATION AND COOPERATION



Linly working in her rice farm

In the lush rice fields of Salima, Linly Uledi’s story is one of remarkable transformation and growth, illustrating the power of innovative farming techniques and community cooperation. As a dedicated rice farmer and the chairlady of the Juma Bunguzi Cooperative, Linly’s journey is a testament to the effectiveness of the interventions provided by the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC) through the RESULT Project, funded by We Effect.

Linly's leadership within her cooperative is a reflection of her commitment to improving not only her own livelihood but also that of her fellow farmers. A key turning point in her farming journey came when AICC introduced her and her cooperative members to the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) farming method. This modern approach to rice cultivation, which uses fewer seeds to produce higher yields, was a game-changer for Linly and her community.


STRENGTHENING ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC FINANCE MANAGEMENT: A GROUNDBREAKING WORKSHOP ON SAI-CSO COLLABORATION IN MALAWI




Workshop Partcipants posing for a group photo

In a major stride toward advancing public accountability and transparency in Malawi, the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC), in partnership with the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI) and the National Audit Office Malawi (NAO), successfully hosted a transformative three-day workshop. Held from 28 to 30 August 2024 at Ufulu Gardens Hotel, the workshop brought together key stakeholders from various sectors, all focused on improving Public Financial Management (PFM) and fostering a culture of accountability. The event not only highlighted the vital role of collaboration between Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) but also underscored the potential for this collaboration to significantly impact public financial management in Malawi, potentially leading to a more transparent and accountable use of public resources.


From Rivirivi to Lusaka with a Certificate in Weaving and Textile” A transformative Journey of Women Cotton Farmers in Malawi




From the left, Ruth Mateyu, Rashida Mateyu & Khadija Injesi

In a remarkable stride toward advancing the textile industry in Malawi, the African Institute for Corporate Citizenship (AICC) with support from We Effect through Women Economic Empowerment in the Cotton Value Chain (WEECVC) project supported a 10 days Weaving and textile training of Ruth Mateyu and Rashida Mateyu to Lusaka in Zambia. Through its tireless efforts to bolster the cotton industry, the WEECVC project has been instrumental in empowering women and youth Cotton farmers across Balaka, Machinga and Salima Districts. By providing training in good cotton farming practices, access to lucrative markets, and affordable inputs, the project ensures sustainable growth and economic stability. However, AICC and We Effect are now setting their sights on expanding the cotton processing industry in Malawi, striving to enhance the country's competitive edge in the cotton export market through value addition.

RISING FROM POVERTY THROUGH TIWATUKULE PROJECT




Mr. and Mrs. Evereson in front of their Mobile Business

Born into poverty, both Mr. and Mrs. Evereson have been struggling to make ends meet, relying on government support through the Mtukula Pakhomo program. Identified as one of the poorest families in Katsitsi Village, Traditional Authority Ganya in Ntcheu District, their future seemed bleak until the commencement of the Tiwatukule project. The overall goal of the project is to assist households to graduate from ultra-poor and it is being implemented by the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship with funding from Malawi Government and IFAD through FARMSE.

HARNESSING THE POWER OF TECHNOLOGY: SYSTEMS OF RICE INTENSIFICATION BRINGS NEW HOPE TO AIRPORT COOPERATIVE



AICC & wee effect visitors in one of the beneficiary’s rice farms.

In the picturesque vicinity of Mukute, near the MDF Airfield in Senga-bay, Salima, a transformative journey has begun where farmers under the banner of the Airport Cooperative have embraced a new technology to boost their rice production. According to the AICC Project Officer Mr. Davlin Juma under Resilient and Sustainable Livelihood Transformation Project (RESULT), System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is an agro-ecological approach that simultaneously raises the productivity of land, water, and capital in irrigated rice by changing the management of plants, soil, water, and nutrients.

“SRI involves cultivating rice with as much organic manure as possible, starting with young seedlings planted singly at wider spacing in a square pattern; and with intermittent irrigation that keeps the soil moist but not inundated, and frequent inter cultivation with weeder that actively aerates the soil” explained Mr Juma.



Network members posing in front of their shop together with AICC officer.

NURTURING DREAMS: MPAMANTCHEMA FARMERS NETWORK'S EMPOWERMENT EXPEDITION

In the vibrant landscape of Mbulumbuzi EPA in Chiradzulu, a transformational tale unfolds as Mpamantchema Farmers Network emerges from the shadows of traditional farming into a beacon of entrepreneurial empowerment. Theres, is a narrative that testifies how AICC's strategic interventions are propelling local farming communities towards self-reliance and economic resilience.
Through targeted trainings, a newfound spirit of entrepreneurship is taking root. The network, once solely reliant on selling raw commodities, opens a shop, creating a hub for buying and selling agricultural produce. However, their aspirations extend beyond mere transactions. Driven by a desire for innovation and a commitment to fetch better prices for their produce, the network sets its sights on cooking oil production. The dream takes shape through meticulous business management trainings by AICC, fostering a vision that will soon transcends into processing groundnuts and soya into cooking oil. At the time we visited the grouping, they showed us a quotation for oil pressing machinery from CAMCO, a well-known machinery company in Malawi. This alone indicates the momentousness of the grouping, commitment to self-sustainability and their hunger to venture into industrious income generating activities. Kelvin Chapusa, Chairman of the grouping shares insights gained from AICC,

“We are being taught to add value to our products to increase income to our groups as well as households. We believe that we will achieve our vision as a network because we conducted a market assessment at Mbulumbuzi together with the AICC officer and we have seen that this business is viable.”

Chapusa added that this forward-thinking approach aims to break them free from exploitative vendor prices and carve a space for the network into the competitive market.


FROM COTTON FARMING TO CULINARY: IGNITING WOMEN DREAMS TO REALITY IN MALAWI

Namkumba Extension Planning Area is one of the rural communities nestled with cotton fields in Mangochi District, Malawi. Despite growing maize as a staple, most community members are hard at work, extensively focusing on smallholding cotton cultivation. The women of Tsanya Business Group have been toiling tirelessly under the scorching sun, dedicating their lives to the cultivation of cotton. For generations, their families have relied solely on cotton farming as the primary source of income, often struggling to make ends meet.