Youth and Community Development Organisation - YouthCode

27/03/2026

Leo Chikoko explains the importance of compost manure.

27/03/2026

YOUTHCODE DEVELOPS A MONITORING AND EVALUATION FRAMEWORK TO GUIDE ITS WORK.

The importance of a robust Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) framework need not be overemphasised for organisations like YouthCode. The MEAL is essential to ensure accountability, maximise impact, and secure sustainable funding. By systematically collecting and analysing data, M&E transforms projects and programmes from assumed successes to evidence-based outcomes.

YouthCode, like any other NGOs, both local and international, are stewards of donor funds, making accountability paramount. A strong M&E framework provides the evidence necessary to show stakeholders, donors, and beneficiaries exactly how resources are utilised and what results are achieved.

M&E is critical as it provides real-time feedback, allowing for "adaptive management"—making timely improvements rather than waiting until a project ends. Regular monitoring helps track progress against indicators and identifies bottlenecks early.

A robust M&E ensures resources are directed toward strategies that yield the greatest positive change. M&E helps identify underperforming components and areas where investment should be increased. By identifying what works, NGOs can replicate and scale up successful interventions to reach more beneficiaries.
M&E goes beyond the project life cycle, measuring whether the changes produced will last. It provides insights that allow NGOs to plan for long-term sustainability and ensure their interventions create lasting, rather than temporary, change.

It is against this background that YouthCode, with support from the Tilitonse Foundation Civil Society Strengthening Fund, supported the organisation to have its board, management, staff, beneficiaries and stakeholders gather for 2 days (18th-20th March 2026), a working training session at River Mark Lodge in Salima to develop a robust Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) framework. YouthCode engaged the consultant to support the process. The organisation envisages having an automated MEAL framework.

Youth and Community Development Organisation is implementing the "YouthCode Capacity Strengthening and Resilience Support Project" The goal of the project is to strengthen the capacity of YouthCode to become a more resilient, responsive, and effective delivery of the priorities of the constituents by 2030.

The programme is being implemented by Tilitonse Foundation in partnership with Comic Relief and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom (UK Aid)

16/03/2026

DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS IN BIODIVERSITY KICKS-OFF IN Cagliari, Italy

On 14 and 15 February 2026, the Youth and Community Development Organisation, through its Executive Director, Mr Robert K. Mbaya, attended the project kick-off meeting with other partners from Europe and Sub-Saharan African countries in Cagliari, Italy.

This meeting officially marks the beginning of another era for the consortium as it starts implementing a three-year project from 1st November 2025 to 31st October 2028, entitled "Digital Ecosystems in Biodiversity: Enhancing the Vocational Education and VET Quality Assurance.

Digital transformation is increasingly reshaping Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), requiring trainers to possess not only basic digital skills but also the capacity to integrate digital technologies pedagogically, ethically, and inclusively across diverse learning environments.

This project is of great significance to YouthCode and other vocational training institutions in Malawi as a nation. It resonates very well with the Malawi development blueprint, Malawi Vision 2063. It focuses on human capital development. The project shall empower trainers to acquire digital skills in core areas such as professional development, digital resources, teaching and learning, facilitating learners' digital competencies, teaching with digital technologies, assessment, empowering learners, professional learning and digital life.

The following working packages will be implemented in the coming three years: project management and quality assurance, enhancing digital and quality assurance in TVET for sustainable biodiversity and resource management, building digital and pedagogical competencies for quality TVET, development, piloting, and Validation of DIGI-BIO Work-based learning, online learning management system and dissemination and sustainability.

The following are the partners in the consortium: TDM 2000 of Italy is the project coordinator, and other partners are: Associacao De Educacao De Jovens E Adultos De Nampula (Asejana) of Mozambique, Wolaita S**o University of Ethiopia, University of Antsiranana of Madagascar, Interprojects, European Knowledge Spot of Greece, DOMSPAIN, and Obafemi Awolowo University of Nigeria.
Considering that we are in the global village and leverage technology, the partners will use a blended approach in the implementation of the project. This entails a blended learning model: combining online, offline and field-based experiential learning, allowing flexibility for participants in rural and underserved areas.

Disclaimer. The Digital Ecosystems in Biodiversity: Enhancing the Vocational Education and VET Quality Assurance (DIGIBIOVET) Project with Grant Number 101242645 – DIGIBIOVET- Erasmus-Edu-2025-VCB-VET-SSA is Funded by The European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

#ИНТЕРПРОДЖЕКТС ЕООД

07/03/2026

06/03/2026

Tools for Self-Reliance granted the organisation funds for the implementation of the Building Community Resilience and Livelihood through Vocational and Business Training Project. The goal of the project is to empower young men and women with technical, vocational, and business skills, and nurture an entrepreneurship culture to gain meaningful employment leading to improved well-being and resilience. The project has attracted a total of 48 apprentices. The apprentices are being trained in various technical vocational skills such as fabrication and welding, tailoring and fashion designing, and solar and electrical installation. There are also additional activities to implement the core technical vocational training. One of them is the motivational talk. The motivation talk is important to the apprentices as it inspires action, fostering personal and professional development and transforming perspectives. Motivational talks are crucial to the apprentices as they help to boost confidence, reduce fear, and provide the crucial energy needed to overcome challenges.

It is against this background that the organisation organised the motivational talk. The organisation invited Mr Bashili, owner of Mawila Building Contractors in Nkhotakota. Mr Bashili has a qualification in plumbing and is a successful contractor. In addition, Mr Vincent Sitima Phiri and Irrigation Engineer at Nkhotakota District Council and also the board chairperson for YouthCode. He also holds a technical qualification in Electrical Engineering. The speeches from these two renowned men instilled a lot of confidence and will help to foster their personal and professional development, particularly in this ever-changing environment that these apprentices are navigating.

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06/03/2026

Tools for Self-Reliance granted the organisation funds for the implementation of the Building Community Resilience and Livelihood through Vocational and Business Training Project. The goal of the project is to empower young men and women with technical, vocational, and business skills, and nurture an entrepreneurship culture to gain meaningful employment leading to improved wellbeing and resilience. The project has attracted a total of 48 apprentices. The apprentices are being trained in various technical vocational skills such as fabrication and welding, tailoring and fashion designing, solar and electrical installation. There are also addition activities to implement the core technical vocational training. One of it is the motivational talk. The motivation talk is important to the apprentices as it inspires action, fostering personal and professional development to the apprentices and transforming perspectives. Motivational talks are crucial to the apprentices as they help to boost confidence, reduce fear, and provide crucial energy needed to overcome challenges.

It is against this background that the organisation organised the motivational talk. The organisation invited Mr. Bashili owner of Mawila Building Contractors in Nkhotakota. Mr. Bashili has a qualification in plumbing and is a successful contractor. In addition, Mr. Vincent Sitima Phiri and Irrigation Engineer at Nkhotakota District Council and also the board chairperson for YouthCode. He also holder a technical qualification in Electrical Engineering. The speeches from these two renowned men instilled a lot of confidence and will help to foster their personal and professional development particularly in this everchanging environment that these apprentices are navigating.

02/03/2026

02/03/2026

YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS UNDERWAY
Youth and Community Development Organisation board, staff, management and stakeholders have gathered at Kariba Beach Resort for a strategic planning process. The strategic planning process is a crucial step for the organisation, as it provides a clear roadmap that sets a vision, mission, values, and future goals and objectives to achieve stable and predictable outcomes.

YouthCode is implementing a 5-year project entitled “ YouthCode Capacity Strengthening and Resilient Support”. The goal is to strengthen the capacity of the organisation to become more resilient and responsive, and to deliver the priorities of the constituents effectively by 2030.

The Strategic Planning Process for YouthCode has been made possible with funding from the Tilitonse Foundation under the Shifting the Power Programme, Civil Society Strengthening Fund (CSSF). The Tilitonse Foundation implements the project in partnership with Comic Relief and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom (UK Aid)”