Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has underscored the need to include more women and girls in the cyber security workforce.
Macra director general Daud Suleman was speaking in an interview ahead of this year’s Women and Girls in Cyber conference slated for tomorrow till Wednesday in Lilongwe.
“The cyber security landscape in Malawi faces a significant skills gap, particularly for women. Macra is, therefore, taking deliberate steps to create a more effective and inclusive cybersecurity space where women and girls should thrive,” he said.
Suleman said they are committed to bridging the cyber security skills gap by encouraging more women and girls to enter the cyber security workforce.
“We believe women and girls have untapped talent and skills which can bridge the gap and inspire a next generation of cyber security professionals and create a more inclusive future for Malawi,” he said.
The 2025 Women and Girls in Cyber security conference is organised under the theme: “She Secures: Building a Stronger and Resilient Cyber Ecosystem in Malawi.”
Suleman said the theme highlights the importance of women and girls in addressing the evolving cyber security landscape in Malawi.
As technology evolves globally, cyber security is becoming vital in dealing with threats such as data protection.
However, women and girls empowerment activists believe cyber security is more on data protection as it empowers people to stay safe online.
Nurse and girls rights champion Auspicious Mlenga observed that cyber bullying is one of the challenges facing the cyberspace today.
He said more women and girls are prone to cyber-attacks, therefore, they offer diversity in promoting security awareness and bring about solutions that empower people to stay safe online.
“Women and girls are more likely to bring unique and creative ideas to dealing with cyber security issues to ensure people and organisations take charge of their digital safety,” he said.
The conference will, among others, bring speakers such as Musonda Kapaya, a renowned champion of cyber security and inclusive innovation in Africa.
