In the rural communities of Blantyre District, Malawi, a group of 35 young women are redefining what empowerment looks like. Through the Microbusiness Incubator Program, supported by Tingari-Silverton and implemented by Business for Better Society (BBS) in partnership with Chitani Community Sustainable Development Organization (CHICOSUDO), these women are gaining the tools to transform their ideas into sustainable businesses and their determination into lasting impact.
A Community-Centered Beginning
The incubator launched in the Lunzu and Chileka areas of Blantyre’s rural district, with the goal of supporting marginalised women aged 18–30. Many of the participants are single mothers, survivors of gender-based violence, or caregivers for children with disabilities.
To ensure that the program reached those most in need, CHICOSUDO conducted a participatory recruitment process involving traditional leaders, health service providers, and community stakeholders. This approach not only strengthened local ownership but also ensured the selected women had both the motivation and the support to succeed.
Before training began, a baseline survey revealed that 70% of the women had no capacity to save, relying instead on small, informal income-generating activities. Yet they expressed a strong desire to become entrepreneurs if given the chance, a clear signal that opportunity, not willingness, had been the missing ingredient.
Training That Starts with Real Life
Unlike traditional training models, the Street Business School curriculum, which underpins the learning component of the incubator, is designed to be practical, participatory, and grounded in real-life challenges.
Through hands-on sessions, the women learned how to identify viable business ideas, understand their local markets, plan financially, and manage small-scale enterprises. The curriculum also included modules on mindset transformation, helping participants build confidence in their own potential, a vital foundation for entrepreneurship.
But what makes the Malawi program especially powerful is its group-based approach. Analysis from the baseline assessment showed that participants learned best when collaborating in small teams. This led to the formation of three business groups, each focusing on a specific market-driven product:
- Pepper Processing and Branding
Fifteen women, mostly farmers, are turning locally grown peppers into a branded, value-added product. With markets already identified, this group is creating new opportunities not just for themselves but for the farmers they buy from. - Eco-Friendly Shopping Bag Production
Led by Oliver Mwangata, a single mother and survivor of early child marriage, this group of five women is making reusable fabric shopping bags as an alternative to thin plastic bags. Their work taps into growing environmental awareness while providing an income stream that aligns with their existing tailoring skills. - Soap Making
Another 15 women are learning to produce and sell soap, a household essential with steady demand. By producing in groups and selling individually, they’re creating a model that allows collective strength and personal growth to coexist. As Maria Njojo, a member of the soap-making group, shared “Soap is something every household needs. By producing it as a group and selling individually, we can grow our savings and start new businesses.”
Skills, Confidence, and Community Buy-In
Each business stream combines technical production skills with lessons on branding, quality control, teamwork, and market access. The training’s learning-by-doing approach ensures participants leave not just with knowledge but with tangible skills they can immediately apply.
Early signs of progress are promising. Several women have already started small-scale production, exploring local markets, and identifying customer bases. Many are also developing a stronger awareness of saving, reinvestment, and record-keeping, which are key ingredients for business sustainability.
The program has also generated strong community support. Traditional leaders have described the initiative as arriving “at the right time,” noting its impact on vulnerable women who have long lacked access to formal economic opportunities. Health service providers have observed positive changes too including greater confidence, improved social connections, and an emerging sense of purpose among the participants.
Next Steps: From Pilot to Prosperity
As the Malawi incubator moves forward, the focus now shifts to mentorship, business development, and market integration. BBS and CHICOSUDO will continue to guide participants through their first production cycles, helping them refine their business models and access local markets.
Participants will also strengthen their Village Savings and Loan (VSL) groups, community-based microfinance networks that encourage saving and responsible lending. This structure not only builds financial independence but also lays the groundwork for future business expansion.
The long-term vision is to scale these initial successes into a sustainable ecosystem of women-led enterprises where today’s trainees become tomorrow’s mentors.
A New Chapter for Women Entrepreneurs
The Microbusiness Incubator in Malawi is about more than teaching business skills. It’s about creating pathways to dignity, resilience, and self-determination. It’s about women who have faced extraordinary challenges finding the means and the confidence to shape their futures. As one participant said during the first training session, “We came here to learn how to do business, but what we’ve really learned is that we are capable.”
And that’s exactly where change begins.
Join Us
BBS’s Microbusiness Incubator Program is creating opportunities for women to thrive through entrepreneurship and community leadership. Learn more about our women’s economic empowerment initiatives and how you can support future cohorts by contacting Kelly Brantner at kelly@bbsociety.org
