WomenRise: Economic Independence for Young Women

The Problem: The specific problem our solution, "WomenRise Malawi," addresses is the lack of economic independence and the resulting limited control over sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) decisions among young women in Malawi, particularly in low-income communities. This challenge is emblematic of broader issues facing young women in many Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), making it a global concern.

Scale of the Problem: The problem is significant both locally and globally. In Malawi, this issue is particularly acute in regions such as Nkhatabay District. In this district, young women are especially prone to SRHR problems due to their financial instability. For instance, many of these women resort to exchanging fish for sex with fishermen due to their limited economic prospects. Such transactions underscore the vulnerability of young women and the urgent need for economic empowerment and SRHR support in the region.

Malawi, as a whole, grapples with a high prevalence of child marriage, early pregnancies, and limited access to SRHR services, which contribute to high maternal mortality rates and low economic prospects for young women. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in Malawi, 29% of women aged 20-24 were married by age 18, and only 62% of married women aged 15-49 used modern contraception in 2020. These statistics emphasize the pressing need for initiatives that empower young women in this context.

Globally, these issues are not unique to Malawi but are seen in various forms across LMICs. Young women's economic dependence and limited control over their SRHR affect their overall well-being, perpetuating gender inequalities and stigmatization. This problem extends to millions of young women in similar circumstances worldwide.

Key Factors Contributing to the Problem:

1. Limited Economic Opportunities: Young women in Nkhatabay District and similar regions often face barriers to accessing quality education and meaningful employment opportunities, contributing to their economic dependence.

2. Early Marriages and Pregnancies: Child marriages and early pregnancies can limit young women's educational and economic prospects, often leading to greater dependence on others.

3. Stigmatization and Gender Norms: Societal norms and stigmatization related to women's autonomy and decision-making around SRHR act as barriers for young women.

4. Inadequate Access to SRHR Services: Limited access to SRHR services and information hampers informed decision-making.

5. Survival Sex: In cases like Nkhatabay District, young women resort to survival sex, exchanging sex for basic necessities such as fish, to address their immediate economic needs.

Relevance to Our Solution: "WomenRise Malawi" directly addresses the root cause of the problem in regions like Nkhatabay District. By providing young women with entrepreneurship skills, vocational training, mentorship, and access to resources, we aim to empower them economically and reduce their vulnerability to such dire survival situations. Economic independence is a powerful tool that can break the cycle of gender inequalities and positively impact young women's ability to make informed choices about their SRHR. By enabling them to start and manage businesses, we aim to address the economic dependence that often leads to limited control over SRHR decisions.

The solution is context-specific and directly addresses the unique challenges faced by young women in regions like Nkhatabay District. By enhancing their economic prospects, we create a path for young women to have greater control over their lives and reproductive health choices, ultimately contributing to improved well-being, gender equality, and broader socio-economic development. Through "WomenRise Malawi," we aim to create lasting change in the lives of young women in such regions and provide a replicable model for similar challenges faced by young women in LMICs globally.

What is it? "WomenRise Malawi" is an empowerment program designed to provide young women in Malawi, particularly in regions like Nkhatabay District, with the tools and support to achieve economic independence. It equips them with entrepreneurship skills, vocational training, mentorship, and access to resources, empowering them to start and run their businesses. This initiative enables young women to gain control over their financial well-being, enhancing their ability to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) and overall life decisions.

How does it work?

1. Skills Training: Participants receive comprehensive entrepreneurship training, covering essential skills such as business planning, financial management, and marketing. They also gain vocational skills, aligning with local market demands and their interests.

2. Business Plan Development: Young women create robust business plans, including market research, financial projections, and a clear vision for their enterprises.

3. Pitching Skills: Participants are trained to effectively present their business ideas and plans, enabling them to secure support or funding.

4. Savings and Microfinance: Village savings groups or banks are established, where young women learn about financial literacy and savings. This helps build financial stability and provides access to credit for their businesses.

5. Startup Support: Seed funding or small grants are offered to young women with promising business ideas, reducing initial financial barriers to entry.

6. Mentorship and Networking: Experienced entrepreneurs mentor participants, offering guidance and advice, and facilitating networking opportunities.

7. Access to Markets: Partnerships with distributors, retailers, or e-commerce platforms are formed, connecting young women with local and regional markets for their products or services.

8. Legal and Regulatory Education: Participants receive guidance on business registration, taxation, and compliance.

9. Monitoring and Evaluation: The program continuously assesses its impact through a robust monitoring and evaluation system, refining its effectiveness based on real-world outcomes.

10. Community Involvement: Local communities and leaders are engaged to support and encourage young women's economic empowerment. Cultural or societal barriers are addressed to create a supportive environment.

11. Gender Sensitivity: The program is designed to be gender-sensitive, addressing the unique challenges young women may face in entrepreneurship.

12. Peer Learning: Young women engage in peer-to-peer interactions, creating a network for sharing experiences and insights.

13. Sustainability: The program promotes sustainable and socially responsible business practices.

Technology: "WomenRise Malawi" leverages a mix of traditional and modern resources. It primarily relies on mentorship, vocational training, and community engagement, making it accessible and contextually relevant. While digital platforms may be used for training and access to markets, the solution is designed to be adaptable to the specific needs and resources available in the target communities.

Through this holistic approach, "WomenRise Malawi" empowers young women to take control of their financial destinies, break the cycle of economic dependence, and make informed choices about their SRHR and life decisions. The result is not only empowered young women but also a more equitable and prosperous community.

Target Population: "WomenRise Malawi" serves young women in Malawi, with a primary focus on regions like Nkhatabay District. These young women, often aged 15 to 25, are a particularly vulnerable and underserved group. They face economic instability and limited control over their sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) decisions, which are exacerbated by factors such as early marriages, early pregnancies, and a lack of educational and economic opportunities.

How are they underserved? In these regions, young women are often caught in a cycle of limited economic prospects, with inadequate access to quality education and meaningful employment opportunities. As a result, they are economically dependent on others, perpetuating gender inequalities. Additionally, early marriages and pregnancies are prevalent, restricting young women's educational and economic opportunities and contributing to their financial dependence. To address their immediate economic needs, many young women engage in risky survival sex, exchanging sex for basic necessities like fish, exposing themselves to various risks, including early pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and compromised autonomy over their SRHR. Furthermore, limited access to comprehensive SRHR services in Malawi hampers informed decision-making and access to essential care.

How will the solution address their needs? "WomenRise Malawi" is a multifaceted solution that directly addresses the unique needs of this underserved population. It provides entrepreneurship training, vocational skills development, access to savings and microfinance, and startup support, empowering young women economically and reducing their vulnerability to survival sex. By offering vocational training and skills development, the initiative enhances their employability and access to meaningful economic opportunities. This economic empowerment enables young women to make informed decisions about their SRHR, access SRHR services, and assert control over their lives. Additionally, "WomenRise Malawi" contributes to reducing gender inequalities by addressing the root causes of these disparities, promoting gender equality and the empowerment of young women to lead lives of autonomy and choice. The program actively engages local communities and leaders, addressing cultural and societal barriers and creating a supportive environment for young women to thrive economically and in their SRHR choices.

In summary, "WomenRise Malawi" seeks to directly and meaningfully improve the lives of young women in Malawi by providing them with economic independence and control over their SRHR decisions. This empowerment leads to greater autonomy, reduced vulnerability,

Our Team Lead, Chisomo, is a native of Malawi, deeply rooted in the local culture, and possesses an extensive background in community engagement, gender advocacy, and youth empowerment. Her leadership is instrumental in guiding our team's approach. Furthermore, our team includes individuals who have lived and worked in Malawi for an extended period, building strong connections with local communities, women's groups, and grassroots organizations. This team composition ensures that our approach is not only well-informed but also genuinely reflective of the communities we serve.

Furthermore, our team comprises individuals who have lived and worked in Malawi for an extended period. These team members have forged deep connections with local communities, women's groups, and grassroots organizations. Their long-term presence in the region has enabled them to build trust and meaningful relationships with the people they aim to serve.

In our commitment to ensuring that "WomenRise Malawi" is rooted in the needs and aspirations of the communities, we have taken several crucial steps:

1. Needs Assessment: We have actively engaged in an in-depth needs assessment within the target communities, including Nkhatabay District. This process involves conducting interviews, organizing focus group discussions, and administering surveys to young women, community leaders, and local stakeholders. It serves to comprehensively understand the challenges faced and the expectations and aspirations of the community members.

2. Participatory Design: Our solution's design is guided by the invaluable input, ideas, and agendas of the community members themselves. We have actively involved them in the co-creation of the program, taking their perspectives and feedback into careful consideration.

3. Local Partnerships: We have built meaningful partnerships with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations, and women's groups. These partnerships are instrumental in ensuring our solution is deeply contextually relevant and well-informed by the communities' needs and lived experiences.

4. Cultural Sensitivity: We approach our work in the region with utmost cultural sensitivity. We respect the local nuances and social norms, recognizing the unique challenges and opportunities that exist in these communities. Our solution is designed to be culturally sensitive, acknowledging the significance of respecting local traditions and values.

5. Continuous Feedback Loop: We have established a feedback mechanism that enables community members to provide ongoing input and feedback as the solution is implemented and refined. This ensures a continuous dialogue and iterative improvement based on the communities' evolving needs and priorities.

In essence, our team's close ties to Malawi, active community engagement, participatory design approach, local partnerships, cultural sensitivity, and a commitment to a continuous feedback loop demonstrate our profound dedication to designing and delivering "WomenRise Malawi" in a way that is not just relevant but transformative for the young women in Nkhatabay District and similar regions. We see ourselves as partners with the communities, working hand in hand to address their needs and aspirations, ultimately leading to positive, sustainable change.

"WomenRise Malawi: Economic Independence for Young Women" stands out as an innovative solution due to its holistic approach, bridging the gap between economic empowerment and sexual and reproductive health choices for young women in low-income communities. It not only imparts entrepreneurship and vocational skills but also fosters mentorship, community engagement, and peer learning. This integrated approach sets it apart, as it directly addresses the root causes of SRH issues, challenging cultural norms while respecting local context. Furthermore, "WomenRise Malawi" promotes sustainable, gender-responsive practices and cross-sector collaboration, laying the foundation for a collaborative ecosystem. Its potential for scalability and adaptability positions it to catalyze broader positive impacts, demonstrating the transformative power of economic empowerment and women's entrepreneurship in reshaping the SRH landscape and community development.

Next Year Impact Goals (By 2024):

1. Economic Independence: By 2024, our goal is to empower at least 500 young women in Nkhatabay District, Malawi, with entrepreneurship skills and vocational training. We aim to help them establish small businesses and generate sustainable incomes.

2. Community Awareness: We aim to engage at least 20 local community leaders and influencers actively in discussions and initiatives related to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender equality. These community leaders will act as advocates for positive SRHR practices within their communities.

3. Peer Network: We plan to establish a peer support network of 100 young women who will actively engage in sharing knowledge and experiences related to SRHR, breaking down stigmas, and promoting gender equality.

Next Five Years Impact Goals (By 2027):

1. Economic Independence and Empowerment: Over the next five years, we aspire to expand our program to benefit a minimum of 5,000 young women in Malawi. This expansion will include reaching additional districts and regions where economic empowerment can have a transformative impact on SRHR choices.

2. Scaling Cross-Sector Collaboration: By 2027, we aim to establish partnerships with local healthcare providers and government agencies to facilitate the provision of comprehensive SRHR services and information to the communities we serve. We will actively collaborate with legal, policy, and advocacy organizations to effect systemic changes.

3. Measurable SRHR Impact: Our ultimate goal is to witness a significant reduction in early pregnancies, early marriages, and risky survival sex among the young women we empower. We will measure the impact through indicators such as reduced teen pregnancies, increased access to SRHR information and services, and improved gender equality within target communities.

How We Will Achieve Them:

1. Program Expansion: To achieve our impact goals, we will expand our program to additional regions and districts in Malawi, ensuring accessibility to more young women. We will seek support from local and international donors and NGOs to scale our efforts.

2. Community Engagement: We will foster active engagement with community leaders, influencers, and local stakeholders. This engagement will be instrumental in creating a supportive environment and addressing cultural and societal barriers. It will also involve advocacy to change traditional norms and practices that hinder young women's SRHR choices.

3. Continuous Evaluation: We will implement a robust monitoring and evaluation system to track our progress toward these goals. By continuously collecting data and feedback from participants and community members, we can adjust our approach to maximize our impact.

4. Policy Advocacy: We will engage in policy advocacy to influence systemic changes. By collaborating with legal, policy, and advocacy organizations, we aim to effect positive changes in policies related to SRHR and gender equality, ultimately creating an environment that supports young women's empowerment.

5. Sustainable Business Models: We will explore sustainable business models that enable program participants to establish and manage businesses independently. By providing access to microfinance and savings mechanisms, we aim to ensure the financial sustainability of these ventures.

Our impact goals are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals related to gender equality (SDG 5) and good health and well-being (SDG 3). Through the economic empowerment of young women, "WomenRise Malawi" seeks to drive transformative change in the communities we serve, ultimately improving the lives of young women and fostering gender equality.

"WomenRise Malawi" expects to make a substantial impact by empowering young women economically and fostering community engagement. Through entrepreneurship training, vocational skills development, and small business creation, we aim to break the cycle of economic vulnerability that often leads to survival sex practices. Immediate outputs will be financial independence, access to SRHR information, and peer networks to challenge stigmas. Short-term outcomes include reduced teen pregnancies and early marriages, fostering autonomy in SRHR choices. In the long term, we aspire to see improved overall SRHR and systemic changes in policies and practices. By linking these activities and outcomes, "WomenRise Malawi" is strategically designed to create a transformative impact, enabling young women to make informed choices about their SRHR, contribute to their communities and economies, and foster gender equality.

• Full-time staff: 3 team members who are fully committed to the project and its implementation.

• Part-time staff: 2 part-time team members who contribute their expertise and support on a part-time basis, adding valuable insights and skills.

• Contractors and Other Workers: 2 contractors who provide specific services, such as training expertise and community engagement support, on a project basis to enhance the solution's effectiveness.

This diverse team collaborates to ensure the successful implementation and impact of the "WomenRise Malawi" program.

Our organization, in collaboration with our dedicated team, has been actively working on the development and implementation of the "WomenRise Malawi" solution for the past two years. During this time, we have conducted extensive needs assessments, engaged with local communities, and refined the program to best address the challenges related to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in Nkhatabay District, Malawi. We have also established key partnerships and laid the foundation for successful execution. This experience has allowed us to design a comprehensive and contextually relevant solution with the potential for transformational impact.

At "WomenRise Malawi," we are deeply committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) throughout our approach. Our leadership team represents a rich tapestry of backgrounds, including native Malawians, women, and individuals deeply connected to local communities. This diverse leadership not only mirrors the communities we serve but also injects a multitude of perspectives, experiences, and insights into our work.

Our commitment to DEI extends to the very core of our program design. We engage young women and local community members actively in co-creating our solutions, acknowledging their unique experiences and aspirations. This participatory approach ensures that our program is not just culturally sensitive but also transformative, challenging gender norms that have historically limited young women's autonomy.

Community engagement and feedback form the backbone of our inclusive practices. We actively seek and value input from community members, understanding that their insights are pivotal in shaping our program. This commitment creates environments in which all community members are welcomed, respected, supported, and valued.

We remain dedicated to equitable access to opportunities, striving to eliminate systemic barriers and disparities, particularly for those facing economic instability and gender inequalities. Our economic empowerment focus directly contributes to gender equity, challenging traditional norms and providing women with the tools to achieve financial independence.

Our approach to DEI is a continuous improvement journey. We understand that it's not just a goal to achieve but a guiding philosophy that ensures our programs remain inclusive, effective, and relevant. We actively collaborate with local non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, and women's groups, building a collaborative ecosystem that emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion in every facet of our work.