Economic Empowerment

Malawi’s women, youth, and vulnerable populations face profound challenges in achieving sustainable livelihoods and economic independence. Over 70% of the population lives below the poverty line, with women and children disproportionately affected. Women often encounter wage inequalities, lower literacy rates, and limited access to secondary and tertiary education, while 66.7% of working-age women are engaged in vulnerable employment. Youth and marginalised households face high unemployment, limited technical skills, inadequate access to financial services, and insufficient entrepreneurial opportunities. These barriers restrict individual growth, hinder national development, and perpetuate cycles of poverty.

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To tackle these challenges, LICO implements comprehensive economic empowerment initiatives that equip women, youth, and other vulnerable groups with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to generate sustainable income and strengthen household resilience. LICO fosters technical and vocational skills development, providing practical training in areas such as carpentry, tailoring, welding, and other market-relevant trades, accompanied by start-up toolkits that enable beneficiaries to establish small businesses and achieve self-employment.

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LICO also promotes entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and sustainable agricultural practices. Women’s groups receive farm inputs and livestock for crop cultivation and livestock rearing, generating income to improve household essentials like housing and education. Through Village Savings and Loans (VSL) programs, beneficiaries are encouraged to save, invest, and build financial resilience. LICO further links participants to formal financial institutions, expanding access to credit and investment opportunities to scale their enterprises.

 

LICO supports small-scale businesses by providing start-up capital, mentorship, financial literacy training, and ongoing guidance in business management, enabling beneficiaries to manage their income sustainably. Recognising the importance of inclusive and sustainable economic growth, LICO facilitates participation in value chains and local enterprise development, including agro-processing, livestock projects, and other locally driven businesses, helping communities increase production, add value to local products, and access broader markets.

 

In addition, LICO emphasises modern skills development, training participants in digital marketing and cybersecurity to equip them for Malawi’s evolving digital economy. By integrating these strategies, LICO empowers communities to achieve economic self-reliance, reduce dependency, and actively contribute to national development. Through building skills, fostering entrepreneurship, and enhancing access to financial resources, LICO transforms livelihoods, nurtures resilient households, and fosters a generation capable of driving sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Malawi.