The NGO Gender Coordination Network (NGO-GCN) is intensifying efforts to engage various stakeholders in developing effective strategies aimed at increasing women’s representation in the country, in different decision-making positions and promoting gender balance in leadership.

NGO-GCN chairperson Maggie Kathewera Banda noted that while Malawi has made some progress in promoting women’s participation in politics, much more needs to be done to ensure meaningful representation of women in leadership roles.

She added that women in Malawi continue to face significant barriers that hinder their participation in political leadership.

Speaking in Lilongwe on the sidelines of an engagement meeting with political party representatives, KatheweraBanda revealed that one of the strategies under consideration is amending the Gender Equality Act or the Political Parties Act to include mandatory provisions that require political parties to allocate a certain number of leadership positions to women.

“We need to have laws in place to ensure elective positions are regulated properly because right there is no law that compels anyone to feature women as candidates.” Said Kathewera Banda.

Meanwhile, Victor Maulidi, one of the officials from UN women, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting efforts that empower more women to participate in politics.

Said Maulidi, “we are looking at political parties as being key and core for political parties to make sure they also embrace reforms to make sure they are putting in place strategies that can enable more women to participate.”

According to NGO-GCN, women in Malawi continue to face multiple challenges that hinder their ability to ascend to leadership roles, including cultural, structural, and financial barriers.