By Leah Malimbasa and Willy Kadewere

Chikwawa, October 9, Mana:  Social Protection for Gender Equality and Resilience (SP-GEAR) project, currently being implemented in Chikwawa District show promising results as both men and women actively participate in the project’s social-economic development interventions.

Chikwawa District Council, Gender Officer, Victoria Nkasala, told Malawi News Agency (Mana) Tuesday that  SP-’GEAR project aims to economically empower the most vulnerable women and girls and that it has already begun showing significant impact through activities such as Village Saving and Loans (VSLs).

The interventions were designed to build economic resilience of women and girls while addressing existing gender inequalities in the district, according to the Gender Officer.

“Through the SP-GEAR project, we are not only empowering women but also encouraging men to participate actively in economic interventions such as VSLs, where they have traditionally faced resistance. This project is addressing those barriers,” Nkasala said.

She further explained that the project is tackling gender imbalances in decision-making at household level, division of labour, apart from access and control over resources.

“The SP-GEAR project emphasizes on issues of power imbalances within households, ensuring that both genders have equal opportunities to contribute to and benefit from economic activities, she added.

As part of the implementation, Chikwawa District Council has identified over 200 gender champions tasked to advocate for the economic empowerment of women and encouraging community-wide participation in the development processes.

Hastings Malenga, a gender champion from Group Village Head, Chikhambi in Traditional Authority Kasisi, said the champions’ efforts are focused on ensuring that women engage in small-scale businesses.

“We are also working closely with men to make sure they play their part in addressing gender inequalities that still exist in our communities,” he said.

The SP-GEAR project, also known as Amai Titukuke, is running for three years with a funding commitment of $26.5 million (about K46 billion) from UNICEF, the European Union, and the Governments of Ireland and Malawi.

Apart from Chikwawa, the project is being implemented in Mzimba, Ntcheu, Balaka, Mulanje, Mwanza, Neno, Nsanje, and Zomba.