Zomba, Likoma and Mangochi district councils have each won $20 000 (about K35 million) award under the Youth in Leadership Innovation Challenge to develop youth-led digital solutions.
The three emerged successful after a rigorous and competitive selection process that challenged the district councils to develop models to address public service delivery challenges.
Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced the winning councils during an award ceremony in Lilongwe on Friday.
The challenge brings together young innovators and district councils to identify local service delivery problems, develop digital solutions and test them within existing council systems.
District Council team. | UNDP Malawi/Jonathan Mphande
Speaking at the ceremony, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Dr Chika Charles Aniekwe said Malawi’s young population presents an opportunity for young people to take a more active role in leadership and national development.
“Malawi has a young population. Young people must recognise their role. That comes with leadership and a lot of responsibility,” he said.
Aniekwe noted that young people remain underrepresented in business, politics and governance, despite possessing skills and ideas that can help improve public services.
“This is an opportunity to use your skills in public service delivery. By doing this well, you can inspire other district councils,” he said.
Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Principal Secretary (Administration) Francis Juwawo said Malawi must create more opportunities for young people to contribute ideas, develop innovations and participate in addressing challenges affecting their communities.
“Malawi cannot achieve the transition from poverty reduction to wealth creation without fully harnessing the potential of its young population,” he said.
The initiative aligns with the Youth Engagement Strategy for Malawi 2063 and the National Youth Policy, particularly its focus on youth inclusion in governance, transformative leadership, science, technology and innovation.
One of the selected innovations is Civic Score, a digital feedback platform proposed by young people working with Mangochi District Council.
Wongani Mulanga, a member of Mangochi Hospital Youth Corner, said Civic Score will enable young people and the council to exchange feedback on services in sectors such as health, agriculture and water as well as Constituency Development Fund projects.
In his acceptance remarks, Mangochi District Council director of planning and development Ganizani Nkhwazi said the innovation will help strengthen citizen participation and accountability in public service delivery.
The challenge received 45 applications from district councils across Malawi. Following eligibility screening, 37 proposals progressed to technical assessment, and five were shortlisted.
The proposals were assessed on their relevance, innovation, feasibility, youth participation, digital potential, institutional relevance, sustainability and potential for expansion.
UNDP is implementing the initiative in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology and the National Youth Council of Malawi.
