At Business for Better Society, we believe lasting change begins with opportunity. Over the past year, we’ve seen that belief come to life through our Women’s Microbusiness Incubator in Malawi and South Sudan.
Today we’re pleased to share our 2026 Microbusiness Incubator Project Report, which documents the programme’s first year in both countries and the lessons we’ve learned along the way. None of this work would be possible without our local implementation partners, Community Rise Organization (formerly Chitani Community Sustainable Development Organisation) in Malawi and SPEAK Uganda in South Sudan, whose knowledge of their communities has been instrumental in designing and delivering the incubator.
The incubator combines practical entrepreneurship training, mentorship, savings groups and modest start-up capital. The goal is simple: help women build sustainable businesses that improve their lives, strengthen their families and contribute to their communities.
In Malawi, women established or strengthened their own businesses while also launching three group enterprises producing hot sauce, soap and reusable shopping bags. Women who had little or no savings at the beginning of the programme are now saving regularly, building financial resilience and earning income through businesses they own and manage.
In South Sudan, the programme faced conflict, displacement and economic instability. Rather than following the original design, participants helped reshape the incubator around group-owned enterprises that focused on the dried fish retail market and a revolving start-up fund.
The programme also reinforced an important lesson for us: successful development programmes must adapt to local realities. That flexibility has been possible because our implementation partners understand their communities far better than we ever could from a distance. Working alongside Commumity Rise Organizationand SPEAK Uganda, the incubator has evolved to reflect local priorities from translating entrepreneurship training into Juba Arabic to developing business models that respond to local markets and changing circumstances.
We invite you to explore the full report below. Alongside programme results and data, you’ll meet remarkable women whose determination and resilience remind us that sometimes meaningful change begins with something very simple: the opportunity to succeed.
Partner with BBS to Sponsor a Future Cohort
Business for Better Society is seeking organisations, foundations and companies that want to invest in women-led entrepreneurship and community resilience. Sponsoring a cohort helps provide practical business training, mentorship, savings-group support and start-up capital for women in communities where opportunity is often limited. If your organisation would like to support the next group of entrepreneurs in Malawi, South Sudan or a future incubator location, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss a partnership.
Please reach out to us at info@bbsociety.org and our CEO will connect directly with you further.
