LocationsRising Beyond Representation: Malawi Launches HER RISE Women Executive Leadership Programme
April 29, 2026
The programme has brought together senior women leaders from the public and private sectors, development partners, and policy makers.
Malawi has taken a decisive step towards strengthening women’s leadership and institutional performance with the official launch of the HER RISE x Pink Potential Women Executive Leadership Programme, a flagship initiative of the Malawi School of Government (MSG), implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Launched in Lilongwe, the programme brings together senior women leaders from the public and private sectors, development partners, and policy makers, united by a shared commitment to advancing capable, ethical and results-driven women leadership as a cornerstone of Malawi’s development agenda. It is being implemented under the FutureGov project, with support from the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund under the UN Peace and Development Fund.
Advancing Vision 2063 through inclusive leadership
Hon. Mary Navicha, Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare.
Officially launching the programme, Honourable Mary Navicha, Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, described HER RISE as a strategic investment that aligns directly with Malawi Vision 2063.
“As Malawi strengthens its public institutions and improves service delivery, the role of effective, inclusive and ethical leadership cannot be overstated,” the Minister said. “This programme comes at a critical moment, when senior leaders are required not only to shape policy, but to transform institutions and deliver tangible results for our people.”
While acknowledging progress in appointing women to senior positions in government, parastatals and the private sector, the Minister emphasised that women remain underrepresented at the highest levels of decision-making, not because of a lack of competence, but due to persistent systemic barriers.
“The Women Executive Leadership Development Programme is therefore a deliberate intervention,” she noted, “designed to equip women leaders with advanced competencies in strategic leadership, policy influence and institutional management, while building strong peer networks and mentorship that are essential for leadership progression.”
Beyond numbers: strengthening leadership performance
Professor Lewis Dzimbiri, Director General of the Malawi School of Government
The HER RISE programme responds to a growing national recognition that representation alone is not enough.
Professor Lewis Dzimbiri, Director General of the Malawi School of Government, highlighted that Malawi’s development challenge increasingly lies in implementation and institutional performance.
“HER RISE is not a conventional training course,” he said. “It is an eight-month leadership journey designed to move women leaders from position to performance, from strategy to execution, and from ambition to impact.”
Delivered across four residential phases, the programme combines executive coaching, peer learning, mentorship and action-oriented innovation projects that participants will implement within their own institutions.
A vision shaped by research and experience
Professor Asiyati Chiweza, Outgoing Director General of Malawi School of Government.
“Malawi is not short of policies or plans; our challenge has always been implementation.”Professor Asiyati Chiweza, Outgoing Director General of Malawi School of Government.
The programme was conceptualised under the leadership of Professor Asiyati Chiweza, Outgoing Director General of MSG, drawing on years of research into women’s leadership and public sector performance.
“Malawi is not short of policies or plans; our challenge has always been implementation,” Professor Chiweza said. “HER RISE was designed to invest in capability, confidence and execution excellence, so that women leaders can not only occupy leadership spaces, but transform institutions and deliver results.”
HER RISE is implemented in partnership with Pink Potential by Richemele International, founded by leadership coach Sarah Richson, whose methodology has supported women leaders across Africa and beyond.
Curating leadership from the inside out
Leadership coach Ms. Sarah Richson (left), Minister of Gender Hon. Mary Navicha (centre), and UNDP Representative Ms. Fenella Frost mark the launch of the leadership programme with a ceremonial cake-cutting.
"Sustainable leadership does not come from giving until you are depleted.”Ms Sarah Richson, Curator and Founder of Pink Potential.
Ms Richson, Curator and Founder of Pink Potential, described HER RISE as a deliberate response to the structural and personal barriers that continue to limit women’s leadership progression, despite their proven competence.
“Over many years of working with women leaders across Africa, I saw the same pattern repeat itself,” she said. “Women work hard to earn their seat at the table, only to spend their energy shrinking themselves, doubting their voice, softening their presence, or waiting for permission that no one else in the room is waiting for.”
Ms Richson emphasised that the challenge has never been women’s capability, but the interaction between internal self‑doubt and systems not designed with women in mind. HER RISE, she explained, was intentionally designed as a holistic, long‑term leadership journey, rather than a one‑off training.
“This is not a motivational seminar or a short course,” she said. “It is a structured, phased programme that works with the whole leader, executive presence, strategic voice, emotional intelligence, resilience and legacy vision, because sustainable leadership does not come from giving until you are depleted.”
UNDP support: gender equality as a governance imperative
Ms Fenella Frost, UNDP Resident Representative.
“Gender equality cannot be achieved if women are visible in public leadership but excluded from economic decision-making spaces."UNDP Resident Representative , Fenella Frost.
UNDP Malawi is supporting HER RISE as part of its broader commitment to inclusive governance and gender equality. Ms Fenella Frost, UNDP Resident Representative, underscored that women’s leadership is both a human rights issue and a development imperative.
“This work is grounded in a simple reality: women’s leadership must exist across the entire spectrum, public and private, national and local, political and economic,” Ms Frost said. “Gender equality cannot be achieved if women are visible in public leadership but excluded from economic decision‑making spaces. When women have access to economic power and leadership in business, the benefits extend far beyond individual success; they strengthen families, communities, and national development.”
UNDP’s support includes scholarships for public sector participants and complementary initiatives such as the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions, which helps institutions move from commitment to concrete action on gender equality.
Participant perspective: Leadership as intentional growth
One of the programme’s participants, Ms Madalo Nyambose, Principal Secretary in the Office of the Second Vice President, described HER RISE as a transformative experience that has reshaped how she approaches leadership, decision‑making and personal growth.
“Through this programme, I have become much more intentional in my decisions, both at work and in my personal life,” she said. “I had never gone through formal coaching before, but HER RISE helped me understand that growth does not happen by accident; it has to be intentional.”
Reflecting on the expectations placed on women leaders, Ms Nyambose noted that while many women excel despite systemic pressures, leadership pathways should not require women to silence parts of themselves to succeed.
“We should be able to recognise women in their own glory, acknowledging the responsibilities they carry, while still giving them the space to shine,” she said.
She emphasized the importance of coaching, mentorship and safe spaces for reflection, particularly for younger women leaders.
“This programme allowed me to face myself, to be vulnerable, and to recognise that strength and vulnerability can coexist,” Ms Nyambose said. “I would strongly recommend this journey, especially for young women, so they can be intentional about who they are becoming and the impact they want to have.”
Part of the audience during the launch.
Building a sustainable pipeline of women leaders
HER RISE is part of MSG’s broader Women and Leadership Thematic Area, alongside HER HOUSE, targeting women Members of Parliament, and HER MOMENT, aimed at emerging Gen Z women professionals. Together, these programmes create a leadership pipeline that spans generations and sectors.
Preliminary results are already encouraging. Following Phase One of the programme in March 2026, all participants reported strong gains in leadership confidence and relevance, with many describing fundamental shifts in how they see themselves and their leadership roles.
Leadership as impact and responsibility
Addressing the inaugural cohort, the Minister of Gender urged participants to embrace leadership as a responsibility to others.
“Leadership is not defined by position, but by impact,” she said. “As you rise, uplift others. When women support one another, the impact extends beyond individuals to institutions and to the nation.”
As Malawi works to accelerate progress towards inclusive growth and stronger public institutions, the HER RISE programme stands as a powerful investment in women leaders who are equipped not only to lead, but to deliver, for institutions, communities and the future of Malawi.