Youth innovation key to Malawi 2063, says Chigona
Malawi's ambition to become a wealthy and self-reliant nation will depend on turning more bright ideas into real opportunities, with the private sector being challenged to play a bigger role in that transformation.Labour Minister Joel Chigona has urged businesses to invest more in young entrepreneurs and local innovators, saying stronger support is critical to achieving...
alawi’s ambition to become a wealthy and self-reliant nation will depend on turning more bright ideas into real opportunities, with the private sector being challenged to play a bigger role in that transformation.
Labour Minister Joel Chigona has urged businesses to invest more in young entrepreneurs and local innovators, saying stronger support is critical to achieving the goals of the Malawi 2063 development agenda.
Chigona made the remarks in Lilongwe during the Norwegian Church Aid and Danish Church Aid (NCA-DCA) Innovation Fund Pitching event, which is aimed at identifying and supporting promising youth-led innovations.
The minister said the government recognizes that young people possess the creativity, talent and innovative solutions needed to drive the country’s long-term social and economic transformation.
He emphasized that youth innovation is a key pillar in achieving the aspirations of the Malawi 2063 blueprint, adding that government remains committed to creating an enabling policy environment for organizations that nurture young innovators.
Chigona said partnerships between government, development partners and the private sector are critical to ensuring that innovative ideas are transformed into practical solutions that create jobs, promote entrepreneurship and contribute to national development.
He challenged businesses and investors to play a more active role in supporting homegrown innovations that have the potential to address some of Malawi’s most pressing development challenges.
Meanwhile, NCA-DCA Country Director Stephan Jansen said this year’s Innovation Fund has increased to K136 million from K80 million last year, reflecting the organizations’ growing commitment to supporting youth-driven innovation.
Jansen said the fund continues to target innovative projects that promote climate and environmental stewardship, strengthen food security, stimulate economic development and address gender-based violence and social inequalities.
He noted that the initiative seeks to empower young innovators with the financial resources and technical support needed to transform their ideas into sustainable enterprises and community-based solutions.
According to Jansen, the Innovation Fund has already demonstrated its impact, with last year’s overall winner receiving K64 million to further develop and implement an innovative project.
This year’s pitching event brings together young innovators from different parts of the country, each presenting ideas designed to tackle development challenges while contributing to Malawi’s economic growth and resilience.
The Innovation Fund is now in its second year and continues to provide a platform for nurturing innovation, encouraging entrepreneurship and empowering young people to become active contributors to the country’s development agenda under Malawi 2063.
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