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Monday 09:00 - 17:00 Tuesday 09:00 - 15:00 Wednesday 09:00 - 15:00 Thursday 09:00 - 15:00

Centre for Conflict Management and Women Development Affairs - Cecowda

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Centre for Conflict Management and Women Development Affairs - Cecowda

CECOWDA envisions an informed society that values and ensures women's rights and promotes the full.

01/01/2026

From all of us at Centre for Conflict Management and Women Development Affairs - Cecowda,

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our valued communities, Partners stakeholders and donors.

Your unending support continues to drive our collective efforts to combat climate change, end child marriage, and eliminate sexual and gender-based violence.

Let us renew our commitment to building safer, more resilient, and equitable communities in the year ahead.

UNDP Malawi UNOPS United Nations Development Programme - UNDP Visit Norway Girls Not Brides GEF Small Grants Programme Global Environment Facility Government of Iceland,

08/12/2025

WHEN LOCAL EFFORTS MEET GLOBAL EYES

This initiative is made possible through the support from the Governments of Iceland and Norway in partnership with United Nations Development Programme - UNDP

Many people talk about and .
But few get to see what these issues look like in real communities.
And even fewer see the work people are doing every day to stop them.

Last week, we hosted partners from and UNDP Malawi in .
They came to see the real situation on the ground.
And to see how communities are responding.

They met who shared their fears of early .
They listened to women who survived violence.
They heard how hard it is to find safety, support, and justice.

They also met the people helping them.
Community leaders.
Case workers.
Survivor support groups.
Youth advocates.
Child protection committees.

They saw how referral pathways work.
They saw safe spaces for survivors.
They saw how communities are reporting cases early.
And how families are speaking out against child marriage.

After the visit, our partners told us:
“What we saw here is more than we expected.”

Their words meant a lot to us.
Because this work is not easy.
It is emotional.
It is slow.
And it is often invisible to the outside world.

But it is saving lives.
And it is giving women and girls a chance to live with dignity and safety.

We are proud of the people of Phalombe.
We are proud of every community champion who refuses to stay silent.
This visit reminded us why community-led work is essential in the
fight against SGBV and child marriage.

We will keep going.
One case at a time.
One girl at a time.
One community at a time.

What do you think is the biggest barrier to ending SGBV and child
marriage in our communities?
Share your thoughts in the comments.

05/11/2025

Centre for Conflict Management and Women Development Affairs - Cecowda joined the Day of the Girl Child 2025 commemorations at T/A Kachindamoto Resource Centre Grounds in .

It was a powerful gathering dedicated to advancing girls’ rights and leadership under the theme “The Girl: I Am the Change. I Lead – Girls on the Frontline of Crisis.”

In collaboration with Girls Not Brides The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage and with the participation of Dr. Nertha Semphele Mgala, Principal Secretary from the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, this event highlighted Malawi’s ongoing commitment to gender equality and the protection of the girl child.

CECOWDA (Kudos to Takondwa Biyazawo for representing us) showcased transformative community initiatives that empower girls to thrive academically, socially, and economically while also spotlighting local champions we support in implementing these impactful programs.

These include mentorship efforts, safe spaces, and educational opportunities that help girls reclaim their futures.

The celebration also paid tribute to the late T/A Kachindamoto, whose pioneering fight against child marriage remains a beacon of hope and leadership for all.

At CECOWDA, we believe that investing in girls is investing in sustainable development.

15/10/2025

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all mothers and to the dedicated
of .

We see the immense care you both provide from nurturing families to
protecting our 's by keeping our
cleaner and safer.

Your work, often done with , is the foundation of a
healthier city, a healthier , a healthier and a
healthier .

To the who balance both of these vital roles, Centre for Conflict Management and Women Development Affairs - Cecowda sees your
double burden and your incredible strength.

Thank you for all you do. Happy Mother's Day. 🎉

UNDP Malawi Global Environment Facility

GEF Small Grants Programme

11/10/2025

Happy International Day of the Girl Child 🎊🎊🎊 Every October 11, we celebrate International Day of the Girl Child to recognize the achievements, opportunities, and challenges impacting girls and young women everywhere in the world.

17/09/2025

We spent two days in a room with the people on the front lines, defending democracy in Malawi. It was a powerful experience for our team.

We always hear that civic space is shrinking. But what does that actually mean for people?

It means:
→ Fear of being watched online for speaking up.
→ Rules that make it hard to gather and speak freely.
→ Real safety threats for just doing their work.

That's why this Norad -funded workshop, held by NGOCCR through Hivos was so important. We did not just meet. We connected.

The event brought together , , , persons with , and media. Our shared goal was simple: stop working alone and start building a united front.

A huge round of applause to our intern, biyazawo who represented CECOWDA with passion. She presented our work and shared the challenges we see on the ground, helping to connect our efforts with everyone else in the room.

We built a clear plan to fight back.

Here is how it works:

1. Map & Understand

You cannot protect a space you do not understand. First, we learned about civic space dynamics. We are gathering local data to identify who the key players are both friends and opponents.

2. Connect & Consolidate

One voice is easy to ignore. Many voices are not. Groups like the Blantyre CSO Network and CECOWDA shared their challenges.

3. Plan & Act

Mere talk cannot take you far. You need action. The best part? Every group left with a draft response plan for their district. These were concrete steps for advocacy, not just ideas.

This was about real solutions for real problems.

The main thing we learned? Hope is not a feeling. It is a strategy. But it only works when it is organized.

The pressure is growing. But so is our collective determination to push back.

What about you?

Is your group facing these challenges? What's the biggest threat to civic freedom you see in your area?

Share your thoughts below. Let's talk.

05/09/2025

We have been featured in the news 🎊🎊🎊

Read full story in the link below

https://mwnation.com/32-women-get-skills-to-reap-from-waste/

This project is proudly funded by Global Environment Facility UNOPS through United Nations Development Programme - UNDP UNDP Malawi

03/09/2025

We have just finalized training women in Black Soldier Fly Larvae farming. 🎊🎊

This innovative initiative empowers women to harness the power of BSFL to create income-generating opportunities, contributing to their economic independence while protecting the environment from climate change and boosting food security in Malawi.

It is amazing how something as simple as waste can become a life-changing opportunity.

Imagine if every home and farm put waste to good use our planet would be so much cleaner and healthier. By reducing waste and promoting sustainable practices, we can slow climate change and protect the environment.

Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) might look tiny, but what people don’t know is that they are nature’s recycling champions.

These little insects eat up organic waste that usually ends up in landfills decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change, turning it into valuable products like protein-rich animal feed and natural fertilizer.

Huge thanks to our trainer Francis Namagowa who worked tirelessly with CECOWDA Team to make this happen. Check out his Amazing work here: (https://www.facebook.com/francis.namagowa.3)

This project is proudly funded by Global Environment Facility through United Nations Development Programme - UNDP UNDP Malawi👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

31/08/2025

It was an honour for Centre for Conflict Management and Women Development Affairs - Cecowda to be part of the MenEngage Alliance Malawi Annual General Meeting which brought together over 70 organizations at Mkwichi Secondary School Hall in Lilongwe.

This AGM meant connecting with fellow change makers, exchanging knowledge, and shaping strategies that help us engage men
and boys in building a more equal and empowered Malawi.

The conversations went beyond governance. They touched on real challenges and opportunities from advancing gender equality to promoting sexual and reproductive health rights, and creating communities where men and women stand together as partners for change.

We left the hall inspired and reminded of the truth that progress is stronger when we work together.

Many thanks to our MERL Officer Christopher Misuku for representing CECOWDA

Follow us

Website: cecowda.org

LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-conflict-management-and-women-development-affairs/

26/08/2025

It was a Big Day at i!

On Monday, July 23rd, President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera sat down with advocates behind 's 's and . We were right there in the room. We were represented by Our Executive Director Caroline Mvalo. Our presence meant the voices from our directly in this conversation. We are so proud to stand alongside groups like the 's hashtag , , and disability rights champions as these critical demands were handed directly to the .

Here is what went down:

-The President SIGNED the Pledge with Maggie Kathewera (Women's Legal Resource Centre) and Minister Jean Sendeza watching closely.
-Youth leaders presented their manifesto (powered by ), calling for real empowerment and not just promises.
-The President connecting personally with his warm greeting with Stella Nkhonya from of Women and Girls with meant an Important recognition.

Malawi’s future needs women and youth at the heart of decision-making. These manifestos are not just wishlists; they are blueprints for a fairer, stronger country.

24/08/2025

It was an energizing day in Lilongwe. Centre for Conflict Management and Women Development Affairs - Cecowda joined the Civil Society Social Protection Network (CSSPN) as they launched their 2025–2030 and

This is not just another document; it is a real commitment to building for everyone in Malawi, especially the most vulnerable. Leaders talked about social protection not as a handout, but as a basic right.

A few powerful takeaways that the Centre for Conflict Management and Women Development Affairs (CECOWDA) has carried home:

1. Martha Kwataine (Former Special Advisor of the President of The Republic of Malawi on NGOs, CSOs at State Residences) made an emphasis on the beauty of planning with action. The government, CSOs, partners need to work together for proper ex*****on.

2. CSOs are crucial. Robert Mkwezalamba (CSSPN Chair) emphasized that Civil Society Organisations have a vital role in making sure help is delivered fairly and transparently.

3. Malawi isn't alone. Hearing Ronan Sweeney (Deputy head of mission, Embassy of Ireland, Malawi) reaffirm their strong support was fantastic. Partners like Ireland and Germany (through Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and International Labour Organization ) are truly invested in Malawi's future.

Seeing so many passionate people in one room, united by the goal of a fairer, more inclusive Malawi, was genuinely inspiring. CSSPN's plan gives us a clear roadmap, and as CECOWDA we are happy to help make it happen.

hashtag

23/08/2025

Our hearts were full of joy as we joined UNICEF in Malawi and communities worldwide in honoring (Aug 1, 2025 – Thu, Aug 7 , 2025). This year’s call to " Breastfeeding: Create Support Systems" resonates deeply with who we are.

To every in , whether your little one at , balancing work in the hashtag , or rebuilding peace in our communities. We see you, we you, and we stand with you.

is more than nourishment.
-It is an act of , where connecting mother and child in the most sacred bond.
-It is an act of resilience, especially for hashtag navigating or conflict.
-It is a shared , needing all of us to create , , and .

At Centre for Conflict Management and Women Development Affairs - Cecowda (CECOWDA), we believe in a world where no mother walks this journey alone. Where her dignity is cherished, her strength celebrated, and her right to nurture upheld in peace, in health, and in every opportunity.

Address

Bangwe
Blantyre

Opening Hours

Monday	09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 15:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 15:00
Thursday	09:00 - 15:00

Telephone

+265999954283

Website

https://cecowda.wordpress.com/

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