A delegation from the African Union International Centre for Girls and Women’s Education (AU CIEFFA) concluded a two-day field mission in Lilongwe, Malawi, from 6th – 7th November 2025, as part of its continuous efforts to monitor the implementation of the #AfricaEducatesHer Campaign. This visit marked the fifth in a series of country-level evaluations aimed at documenting progress and identifying challenges in advancing girls’ and women’s education across the continent.
The team, which was welcomed by the Director for Basic Education, Mrs Grace Milner, used the opportunity to explore best practices, assess reintegration mechanisms for out-of-school girls, and discuss strategies to overcome persistent barriers. The focal points of Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education as well as the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare presented notable advancements and initiatives, including policies and programs designed to support re-entry into formal education, as well as efforts to combat harmful socio-cultural norms, early marriage and gender-based violence (GBV), particularly within school environments. To bridge implementation, Malawi works cross sectorially through community led financing by HRH Fumukazi Kamgundanga who spearheads the late Chief Kachindamoto’s fund with UN WOMEN, while leveraging grassroots support with NGOs and CSOs such as, Oxfam, CRECOM, FAWEMA, COMFWB and CAMFED.
The visiting team paid a courtesy call at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology where they were welcomed by the Ms Thokozile Banda, Principal Secretary Administration. They also went to several institutions, including the Lilongwe Technical College and the Lilongwe Girls Secondary School, to observe firsthand the implementation of campaign-related activities and innovations in education delivery.
Malawi is among the 14 African Union Member States who have launched the second phase of the #AfricaEducatesHer Campaign in December 2024. The delegation also included representatives from Uganda’s Ministry of Education, AUC’s Department of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, and Girls Not Brides, reinforcing the campaign’s spirit of cross-country and cross-sectoral collaboration and shared learning.
