Empowering the Future: COMFWB ignited action on International Women’s Day
On March 10, 2026, the Lifestyle Boutique in Lilongwe Malawi, transformed into a vibrant hub of advocacy and ambition as COMFWB hosted a high-level program to celebrate women’s achievement during the Women’s month . Under the official theme, "Rights. Justice. Action. For all Women and Girls," and the global campaign, "Give to Gain," the event brought together regional leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs. The morning kicked off with a compelling welcome from COMFWB CEO Mr. Miti Chikakula, who reaffirmed the organization’s dedication to regional trade and SME growth. He noted that Investing in Women is a smart thing to do as women owned business invest in families and communities. This was followed by a localized reflection from Malawi Chapter Chairperson, Madam Selina Mwenelupembe, on integrating Malawian women into the broader regional agenda.
The discourse deepened with technical presentations that bridged the gap between national strategy and regional execution. The representative of the Ministry of Gender Mr Fred Simwaka delivered a keynote outlining Malawi’s roadmap for economic justice, while the Director of Programme Management , Simret Girma showcased COMFWB’s tangible interventions in trade facilitation and digital skills. A sobering yet hopeful analysis by a Ministry of Gender expert highlighted the "Give to Gain" philosophy as a vital tool for overcoming persistent barriers—such as limited access to finance and property rights—suggesting that collective generosity and mentorship are the keys to strengthening national economic resilience.
The event culminated in a dynamic panel discussion titled “Advancing Economic Rights & Justice for Women: From Policy to Action,” featuring a powerhouse lineup of experts comprised of Esther Mambo, Programme Officer at COMFWB Secretariate, Meti Disasa, from the COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission, Fred Simwaka, Director at the Ministry of Gender of Malawi and Euniphrasia Ndazunga Mbosanje from COMFWB Malawi Chapter. The dialogue tackled tough questions on how to amplify the voices of women in regional trade policy and the necessity of fairer market competition. From discussing the removal of structural barriers to co-designing policies that address the "on-the-ground" challenges of youth and women, the panel concluded that accelerating intra-African trade requires more than just policy—it requires a unified commitment to turning economic rights into lived realities.
On March 10, 2026, the Lifestyle Boutique in Lilongwe Malawi, transformed into a vibrant hub of advocacy and ambition as COMFWB hosted a high-level program to celebrate women’s achievement during the Women’s month . Under the official theme, "Rights. Justice. Action. For all Women and Girls," and the global campaign, "Give to Gain," the event brought together regional leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs. The morning kicked off with a compelling welcome from COMFWB CEO Mr. Miti Chikakula, who reaffirmed the organization’s dedication to regional trade and SME growth. He noted that Investing in Women is a smart thing to do as women owned business invest in families and communities. This was followed by a localized reflection from Malawi Chapter Chairperson, Madam Selina Mwenelupembe, on integrating Malawian women into the broader regional agenda.
The discourse deepened with technical presentations that bridged the gap between national strategy and regional execution. The representative of the Ministry of Gender Mr Fred Simwaka delivered a keynote outlining Malawi’s roadmap for economic justice, while the Director of Programme Management , Simret Girma showcased COMFWB’s tangible interventions in trade facilitation and digital skills. A sobering yet hopeful analysis by a Ministry of Gender expert highlighted the "Give to Gain" philosophy as a vital tool for overcoming persistent barriers—such as limited access to finance and property rights—suggesting that collective generosity and mentorship are the keys to strengthening national economic resilience.
The event culminated in a dynamic panel discussion titled “Advancing Economic Rights & Justice for Women: From Policy to Action,” featuring a powerhouse lineup of experts comprised of Esther Mambo, Programme Officer at COMFWB Secretariate, Meti Disasa, from the COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission, Fred Simwaka, Director at the Ministry of Gender of Malawi and Euniphrasia Ndazunga Mbosanje from COMFWB Malawi Chapter. The dialogue tackled tough questions on how to amplify the voices of women in regional trade policy and the necessity of fairer market competition. From discussing the removal of structural barriers to co-designing policies that address the "on-the-ground" challenges of youth and women, the panel concluded that accelerating intra-African trade requires more than just policy—it requires a unified commitment to turning economic rights into lived realities.
