LILONGWE, Malawi — Norwegian Church Aid/DanChurchAid (NCA/DCA) has awarded K110 million to two locally developed innovations aimed at tackling climate change, food insecurity and gender-based violence in Malawi, writes Steria Manda.
The Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) and the Green Innovations Center emerged as winners of the latest NCA/DCA Innovation Fund competition, receiving K78 million and K32 million, respectively.
The funding is expected to help the two organisations scale up solutions designed to improve livelihoods, strengthen community resilience and promote sustainable development.
Speaking Tuesday during the Innovation Fund Pitching Event in Lilongwe, NCA/DCA Country Director Stefan Jansen said locally driven innovation remained key to addressing Malawi’s increasingly complex social, economic and environmental challenges.
“Innovation is essential to creating lasting change, particularly as communities continue to face the effects of climate change and other socio-economic challenges. The Innovation Fund is designed to support practical, locally driven solutions that can improve people’s lives,” Jansen said.
He said NCA/DCA believed communities were best placed to understand the challenges they face and develop solutions that respond to their realities.
Jansen said investing in local innovation strengthens resilience, promotes sustainable livelihoods and empowers vulnerable populations.
He said the success of the fund’s inaugural edition in 2025 had demonstrated the transformative potential of local innovators.
“We launched the first edition of the Innovation Fund in 2025 and awarded two innovations K64 million and K21 million, respectively. Their journeys have reinforced our belief that when local innovators are given an opportunity, they can deliver meaningful and sustainable impact,” he said.
The Innovation Fund supports initiatives focusing on climate-smart agriculture, food security, the prevention of gender-based violence and other community-led interventions aimed at improving livelihoods and promoting inclusive development.
Jansen expressed optimism that the initiative would inspire greater collaboration among government, development partners, the private sector and communities, saying sustainable development requires bold ideas backed by strong partnerships.
Minister of Labour, Skills and Innovation Joel Chigona commended NCA/DCA for investing in local innovation, describing the initiative as one that complements the government’s efforts to empower communities to identify challenges and develop practical, sustainable solutions.
“Malawi 2063 is built on three strategic pillars — agricultural productivity and commercialisation, industrialisation and urbanisation. The innovations showcased here today are a driving force that can turn this national vision into reality,” Chigona said.
He said Malawi must invest more in nurturing young innovators through research, technology, entrepreneurship and innovation instead of relying heavily on imported solutions.
“No idea on its own can transform an economy, and no single institution can transform Malawi alone. We need partnerships among government, academia, technical training institutions, the private sector, civil society organisations and development partners to transform the country,” he said.
Chigona challenged the private sector to increase investment in local innovations while assuring innovators that the government remains committed to creating an enabling environment for innovation, entrepreneurship, digital transformation and industrial growth through supportive policies.
One of the winning innovators, Jabulani Nyengere, a senior lecturer and postgraduate coordinator at MUST, said the funding would enable his team to commercialise an environmentally friendly fertiliser produced from human urine and locally available minerals.
“We have been producing fertiliser from urine and stones on a small scale. With this funding, we will procure machinery that will allow us to manufacture about 10 bags per hour, making the fertiliser available to more farmers,” Nyengere said.
He said increasing production would improve access to affordable fertiliser for smallholder farmers, boost agricultural productivity and contribute to national food security.
Nyengere also pledged that the funds would be used for their intended purpose.
Alinafe Velemu, founder and CEO of the Green Innovations Center, said the funding would go a long way in supporting the organisation’s environmental protection initiatives.
“We recycle plastics into reusable items such as bricks and baskets, thereby protecting the environment,” Velemu said.
Velemu added that the funding would help the organisation employ more young people to participate in recycling and waste management activities.
Held under the theme, “From Ideas to Lasting Impact: Breathing Life into Locally Tested Ideas for a Resilient Malawi,” the pitching event attracted six innovations out of 123 applications to present their innovations before an independent panel of judges.
Two innovations were ultimately selected for funding.