Empowering Women, Empowering Nature: Driving Change Through Conservation and Microenterprise in Malawi

By Temwanani Kalulu                            

Former UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet once stated that , “When women are economically empowered, they become a powerful force for change, driving progress in their families, communities, and nations.”

This statement resonates deeply with the inspiring story of Umodzi Women’s Group in  Kalimanjira  Traditional Authority Area (TAA),  Nkhotakota District, Central Malawi. Born out of the Kanyama Sustainable Bird Hunting Club, the group embodies the power of integrating women’s economic empowerment with environmental conservation.

The Kanyama Club was established under the “Community Approach to Waterbird Resources Management at Chia Lagoon” project which is a two-year and ten-month initiative funded by the UK Government through the Darwin Initiative. The project is being implemented since 2023 by BirdLife International, in partnership with the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (WESM), the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), and the MicroLoan Foundation.

Located about 24 kilometers south of Nkhotakota town, Chia Lagoon is Malawi’s largest lagoon, spanning 17 square kilometers in the heart of a 989-square-kilometer watershed. It is a haven for biodiversity, home to species such as Banded Tilapia (Tilapia sparrmanii) and a range of birds, including the Black Heron (Egretta ardesiaca), Ring-necked Dove (Streptopelia capicola), and Lesser Masked Weaver (Ploceus intermedius). The lagoon also supports the livelihoods of over 7,857 households, including fishermen, farmers, and bird hunters.

The Chia project’s goal is threefold: to restore the ecologically vital Chia Lagoon, halt the decline of vulnerable bird species, and improve the livelihoods of surrounding communities. So far, WESM has helped establish 18 sustainable bird hunting clubs in the three Traditional Authority areas surrounding the lagoon namely Kalimanjira, Nkhanga, and Mwadzama.

“The project is working with communities to better manage and restore the vital lagoon ecosystem, reverse decline in vulnerable and declining bird species and improve livelihoods in the communities” , said  Blessings Chingagwe, WESM’s Programmes Manager.

For Zainab Amisi, a mother of eight from Kanyama Village, the project has been life-changing. As a member of both Umodzi Women’s Group and the Kanyama Bird Hunting Club, she has benefited from the project’s microlending facility, which is being implemented in collaboration with the MicroLoan Foundation.

On a warm and humid Friday afternoon in June 2025, the community is abuzz with activity. The air is filled with the scent of smoked fish, and the fields are alive with people harvesting rice. The day also coincides with Eid al-Adha, a significant Islamic holiday, and I’m waiting to meet Zainab as she returns from the mosque, her smile warm and infectious. After a round of cheerful greetings, we settle down to talk.

 “Business has been thriving,” she tells me enthusiastically. “Thanks to the microloan and the business management training from WESM, I was able to diversify my farm produce business to include rice and watermelons.”

Zainab received an initial loan of MWK 150,000 (approximately £64.14) to expand her tomatoes and onions business. With the profits, she diversified into sweet potatoes, rice, watermelons, and spices. She successfully repaid the loan with interest and later accessed a second loan of MWK 200,000 (about £85.52). With the increased capital, her income grew substantially.

“This loan has been life-changing,” she says with pride. “I’m no longer solely dependent on my husband. I’ve used my profits to buy iron sheets and four bags of fertilizer worth MWK 420,000 (roughly £179.60) for the next growing season. These are things I could never have achieved on my own.” As we walk through her home, Zainab proudly shows me her storeroom filled with bags of rice for sale, bags of fertilizer, and her newly purchased roofing iron sheets.

Since March 2024, Gift Maluwa, affectionately known in the community as “alangizi aGifi” (Field Officer Gift), has worked closely with the Umodzi Women’s Group.

“When the group started, there were only 15 women. Now, there are 20. Many women have been inspired by what they see particularly economic progress tied to environmental stewardship,” he explains.

So far, 40 women have directly benefited from the microloan facility. The combination of access to finance and conservation-focused training is creating a ripple effect, turning local women into entrepreneurs and environmental stewards.

“Before the Chia Project, I never imagined I’d be part of something that protects our lagoon and helps me grow as a person. Now I’m learning how to care for the ecosystem, exploring avitourism through birding guide trainings, and gaining business management skills I use in daily life. It has opened my eyes not just to nature, but to my own potential” , noted Judith Chirwa,  a member of Umodzi Women’s Group and the Kanyama Bird Hunting Club.

“Zainab’s story validates the community-led work taking place in Chia Lagoon. We are witnessing firsthand how investing in communities particularly women through microloans and training, contributes not only to sustainable livelihoods but also to ecosystem restoration and protection” said Chifundo Dalireni, Chia Project Coordinator.

Beyond livelihoods, the project has scored major conservation wins. 15 bird sanctuaries have been mapped, and 18.39 hectares of degraded land have been restored. Most significantly, Chia Lagoon has now been recognized as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This global recognition underscores its ecological significance and opens new avenues for funding, eco-tourism, and conservation.

“The KBA recognition is a tremendous milestone. It validates our efforts and will help attract more support for long-term conservation and sustainable development in the region.” said Chingagwe

As our conversation draws to a close, Zainab shares a reflection that embodies the essence of the Chia Project: “I always tell people who admire my success that they too should join in conserving the environment. If I hadn’t joined the Kanyama Sustainable Bird Hunting Club, I wouldn’t have accessed the training and loans. Now, many people are beginning to see the benefits of environmental stewardship.”

Zainab has become an ambassador for not just for Umodzi Women’s Group, but for conservation in Chia Lagoon. Her journey illustrates how environmental restoration, when integrated with women’s empowerment and sustainable livelihoods, can transform lives and ecosystems alike. As I leave her home, I’m reminded once again of Michelle Bachelet’s powerful words. Indeed, when women are economically empowered, they do more than lift themselves, they drive progress for families, communities, and nations.

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