Malawi Strengthens Coordination to Accelerate Gender Equality During Gender Working Group Meeting

December 12, 2025

Members of the Gender Technical Working Group from across Malawi pose for a group photo with UN Women Representative and UN Resident Coordinator a.i Ms Letty Chiwara (seated, second row, third from left), Principal Secretary for Administration in the Ministry of Gender, Mr Oliver Kumbambe (second row, third from right), and the Deputy Head of Mission for Iceland, Dr Erla Hlín Hjálmarsdóttir, marking the close of a two-day workshop.

Malawi has reinforced its national drive to advance gender equality and end gender-based violence through the National Gender Technical Working Group (GTWG) meeting held in Lilongwe during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The forum brought together government leaders, United Nations agencies, development partners and civil society to assess progress, share learning and strengthen coordinated action toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 on Gender Equality.

Convened by the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, the GTWG meeting served as a platform to reflect on progress made since the 2024 High-Level Dialogue on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. Discussions focused on translating national commitments into practical action, strengthening coordination mechanisms, and addressing emerging challenges, including technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

The Principal Secretary for Administration in the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Mr. Oliver Kumbambe, delivering his remarks.

Opening the meeting, the Principal Secretary for Administration in the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Mr. Oliver Kumbambe, emphasized the importance of the GTWG as Malawi’s primary coordination platform for gender equality. He noted that the forum plays a critical role in aligning policies, reviewing progress and ensuring coherence across government, development partners and civil society. “The value of the Gender Technical Working Group lies in its ability to move us from commitments to coordinated action in accelerating progress towards SDG 5,” he said.

Ms. Letty Chiwara, UN Women Representative and acting UN Resident Coordinator, delivering her remarks

Speaking during the meeting on behalf of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Ms. Letty Chiwara, who is the UN Women Representative, underscored both the progress achieved and the urgency of sustaining the momentum. She commended Malawi for advances such as the adoption of the National Gender Policy, the Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence and the Women’s Economic Empowerment Action Plan, while cautioning that hard-won gains for women and girls remain fragile. “We cannot afford to sit back. Almost 30 years after the Beijing Declaration, many of the gains for women and girls are at serious risk, and this calls for urgent, collective action,” she said.

Panel discussants during the session: the Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Gender, Mr Oliver Kumbambe (seated centre); UN Women Representative, Ms Letty Chiwara (seated second from left) representing the UN Resident Coordinator; UNDP Chief Technical Advisor on Elections, Mr Isaack Otieno (seated far left); and the Deputy Head of Mission for Iceland, Dr Erla Hlín Hjálmarsdóttir (seated second from right).

Discussions also focused on strengthening prevention and response to gender-based violence, including online and digital forms of abuse, while reinforcing accountability and institutional responsiveness at national and district levels. Participants shared lessons and best practices from implementation, highlighting the importance of coordinated, evidence-based approaches to protect women and girls and advance inclusive development.

Dr Erla Hlín Hjálmarsdóttir Deputy Head of Mission for Iceland reaffirmed the commitment of the Iceland Government to the country and shared how Iceland made it to one of the top countries that are gender inclusive advised that change is possible and transformation is real once there is collective action for policy change and enforcement She emphasized on the need for the country to proceed with urgency in tackling barriers to a successful fight against gender exclusion and GBV in Malawi.

Mr. Isaack Otieno, UNDP Chief Technical Advisor on Elections, emphasizing a point during the panel discussion.

Representing the UNDP Resident Representative during a panel discussion, Mr. Isaack Otieno, UNDP’s Chief Technical Advisor on Elections, emphasized the need to translate commitments into tangible outcomes. He highlighted the importance of deliberate legal reforms, gender-responsive institutions and firm action against all forms of violence targeting women and girls as essential to accelerating progress on gender equality.

Through sustained technical support, policy dialogue, and coordination platforms, UNDP continues to work with the Government of Malawi and partners to advance gender equality and protect the rights of women and girls. As co-lead of the Gender Sector Working Group, UN Women works closely with UNDP in driving this agenda, providing joint leadership and coordination across the sector. The National GTWG meeting reaffirmed this partnership and the shared commitment to translate policy frameworks into meaningful action that delivers lasting impact for communities across Malawi.