By Burnett Munthali
Malawi is calling for closer cooperation among government, financial institutions, academia, faith-based organisations and the private sector to strengthen social enterprises and small and medium-sized businesses as engines of employment and sustainable development.
The appeal was made during the inaugural Sisters Blended Value Project (SBVP) Annual Malawi Social Entrepreneurship and SMEs Conference and Expo, held at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe on August 6 under the theme, “Sustaining Impact in Social Enterprises and SMEs: Building Resilience in Finance and Market Readiness.”
The conference brought together 195 delegates to examine ways of improving access to finance, markets, technology and business expertise for entrepreneurs.
Opening the event, Strathmore University Pro-Chancellor Rev. Fr. Silvano Ochuodho said African businesses needed stronger support systems to withstand economic and social disruptions.
He argued that good intentions alone could not guarantee the survival of social enterprises, stressing the need for an environment in which entrepreneurs can access capital, markets, technology and mentorship.
Ochuodho also urged stakeholders from different sectors to work together, saying sustainable enterprise development required cooperation rather than isolated interventions.
Using the baobab tree as an illustration of resilience, he encouraged entrepreneurs to prepare for difficult periods during times of relative stability and to ensure that the benefits of enterprise extend beyond individual businesses to wider communities.
Delivering the keynote address, Defence Minister Feston Kaupa said social enterprises had demonstrated that commercial viability and social responsibility could reinforce each other.
He highlighted the contribution of Catholic Sisters and other faith-based organisations to sectors including education, healthcare, agriculture, social protection and humanitarian assistance, particularly in communities facing vulnerability.
The conference also examined emerging opportunities and challenges affecting small businesses, with sessions focusing on digital innovation, climate-smart enterprises and financing strategies for growth. Participants were also given opportunities to network and showcase their products and services.
The gathering marked the expansion of the SBVP initiative into Malawi. The programme already operates in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia.
SBVP is implemented by Strathmore University Business School in partnership with the Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa, with support from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
The initiative aims to strengthen the leadership, governance and business capabilities of Catholic Sisters while helping religious organisations develop sustainable social enterprises from their traditional community-based activities.
SBVP principal investigator Angela Ndunge said the programme was designed to move communities beyond dependence on short-term assistance by equipping people with the capacity to build sustainable livelihoods.
The conference underscored growing recognition that resilient social enterprises and SMEs can play a critical role in expanding economic opportunities, creating employment and addressing social challenges across Malawi and the wider region.
