Archives: Blogs

  • Eye on Malawi extractives

    At the end of April, Moore Stephens submitted the final version of Malawi’s first Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative report to the Multi-Stakeholder Group. Over the last two months I have shared the top ten insights I gleaned from the report and 10 questions I have after reading the report. In the final column in this series, I explore ten…

  • Energy’s Vital Role As An Enabler of Healthcare Delivery in Malawi

    Universal health and universal access to energy are both global and Malawi development goals. However, not enough attention is given to their interdependence and their strong relationship. There are grave consequences of energy poverty on health indicators. Hivos Southern Africa’s partner under the Green and Inclusive Eenergy programme, Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN), trained community groups at…

  • Six ways for citizens to assert power beyond the ballot box

    Elections are key milestones for democratic engagement, and referendums such as the UK’s Brexit poll are innovative ways for citizens to be more directly involved in the decision-making process. But voting provides only a limited taste of the variety of ways citizen can participate in government. The real antidote to citizens’ feeling of disenfranchisement lies…

  • What’s in your cup?

    Did you know that the coffee in your cup has travelled a long way? As you smell the aroma and take a sip do you have thoughts of the diminishing food security? Upon my recent visit to Uganda, these thoughts were at play during my six hour trip from Kampala to Bushenyi District in Western Uganda.…

  • An Upward Climb: Five Years Chasing the Sun

    Five years ago to the day, I started working for the Open Government Partnership (OGP) as “independent civil society coordinator.” It has been an incredible privilege to help shape OGP into a platform that really brings civil society to the heart of government. Through my work, I’ve had a front row seat to see civil…

  • With More Support, Chipendeke Micro Hydro Project Set to Grow

    The sound of water rushing in small waterfalls over the jagged rocks is soul soothing, if you care to it listen closely enough. The damwall like structure known as the intake weir constructed to harness water required to power the Chipendeke micro-hydro scheme gives the water a sudden force to rush over the rocks as…

  • Every Girl Deserves A Chance

    At age 15, Tanaka (not her real name) was forced into sex work in order to fend for herself. Now aged 17, Tanaka has been through what can be simply described as hell, something a child like her ought never to experience. She fell pregnant hardly a year after she started engaging in sex work,…

  • Food and Lifestyle Entrepreneurs in Southern Africa Pitch Ideas for Scaling Up

    Thirteen food and lifestyle entrepreneurs from Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe pitched their business ideas in front of a four-panel jury, potential investors, NGOs and members of the public at Hivos Southern Africa HQ on June 16, 2017. The jury used the following criteria to judge the pitches: strength of the business case, potential…

  • Women Leaders Commit to Mentoring New Crop of Leaders

    The Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD) organized a two day leadership retreat in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe as part of Hivos’ Women Empowered for Leadership (WE4L) programme. The meeting brought together female leaders in fulfillment of earlier commitments to contribute to a mentoring programme for aspiring women leaders in business and politics.  At the retreat, women leaders…

  • Taking Green and Inclusive Energy to the Citizens

    Hivos Southern Africa in partnership Action 24 and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate held a community awareness tour on green and inclusive energy. The theme of the roadshows titled: “Green and Inclusive Energy Advocacy Public Outreach & Awareness” was aimed at increasing community awareness and uptake of renewable energy technologies at the community…

  • Reflections from the recently held Human Rights Funders Network Conference in New York

    Last week, I spent time in spaces that I really liked. Mainly because we were discussing issues that are very dear to me but also getting to interact with some of the most inspiring people within the human rights movement globally. Human rights under siege in most countries What I liked most about the meetings…

  • ¿Cómo salvar a tu país de la minería metálica?

    You can read this blog in English here. Para el Salvador no fue fácil: En el proceso, cuatro personas fueron asesinadas y una torturada. Los dirigentes comunitarios vivieron bajo amenaza por años. Sin embargo, hace unas semanas, nuestro país se convirtió en el primero de Latinoamérica en prohibir la minería metálica en todas sus formas.…

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