ActionAid Malawi Hands Over Nkhulambe Local Rights Programme After 24 Years of Transformative Impact

Established in 2001, the Nkhulambe LRP emerged from a detailed Participatory Vulnerability Assessment that revealed the urgent need to address entrenched poverty, gender inequality, weak public services, and the exclusion of women and young people from decision-making. Guided by a strong Human Rights–Based Approach, AAM has worked with communities to claim their rights, strengthen accountable governance, enhance resilience to climate impacts, respond to crises, and build a foundation for long-term development anchored on equitable redistribution of resources.

A Legacy of Impact

A comprehensive impact assessment rated the programme highly satisfactory across impact, relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability. Today, communities in Nkhulambe, Nazombe and Sub-T/A Phweremwe stand more organised, resilient, and empowered, with stronger women’s rights movements, improved access to education and health, diversified livelihoods, and strengthened climate resilience.

Over the past 24 years:

• 14,457 women and girls have realised and are actively claiming their rights.
• 6,190 cases of violence were reported and addressed (2018–2025), reflecting increased confidence in reporting and demanding justice.
• 353 girls who dropped out have been re-admitted to school, while 1,174 schoolgirls have been empowered with knowledge on child rights, VAC and referral pathways for reporting abuse.
• 1,406 VAWG survivors have accessed comprehensive response services.
• 95.2% of women can now make household decisions, and 1,456 women hold leadership positions in community and local governance structures.
• 15,023 women and youth adopted climate-resilient agriculture practices, improving household food security.
• 12,856 young people have gained knowledge on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
• 15,023 women have strengthened their capacities in climate resilience, emergency preparedness, and humanitarian response.
• 2,589 households have received humanitarian support through cash transfer programmes.

These gains reflect strong collaboration with the Phalombe District Council, government Ministries and Departments, local partners, Phalombe Women Forum, Chigwirizano Women Movement, Ufulu Wathu CBO, Michesi Tioloke CBO, and the longstanding support of ActionAid Italy.

Transforming Education and Early Childhood Development

When the programme began, many children were learning in unsafe structures or under trees, without basic learning materials. Through community-led advocacy and targeted investments:

• 11 classroom blocks, toilets, and 15 teachers’ houses have been constructed or rehabilitated.
• 280 desks were provided to improve the learning environment.
• 12 schools now have female teachers as role models for girls.
• The Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme  has supported 30 Community-Based Childcare Centres across four Traditional Authorities, reaching nearly 5,000 children and training 300 caregivers.

These improvements have increased enrolment, strengthened retention, especially for girls, and laid stronger foundations for lifelong learning.

Strengthening Women’s Leadership and Economic Power

Through VSL groups, business skills training, land rights advocacy, and agroecology:

• 1,145 VSL groups have been formed, benefiting 18,456 women, many now running profitable businesses.
• 1,234 women have increased access to land, strengthened bargaining power, and greater visibility in community leadership.

Building Resilience to Disasters

In keeping with ActionAid Malawi’s strong humanitarian tradition, including its response during Cyclone Freddy, the programme has strengthened community-led Disaster Risk Management structures, prioritised the needs of women and vulnerable groups, and supported households with cash transfers and emergency preparedness training.

To contact the ActionAid Malawi  Executive Director 

Email: Yandura.Chipeta@actionaid.org

About ActionAid

ActionAid Malawi (AAM) is an affiliate member of ActionAid Federation. It started working in Malawi in 1990. The organization was registered as a local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) under the Companies Act (Reg. No. 8289) as a Company Limited by Guarantee. AAM has a two-tier governance system which is comprised of the General Assembly and Board of Directors.