WFF Malawi Youth Chapter marks the inaugural UNIDO International Day of Women in Industry within the UNIDO ACT Coffee Programme

On 15 May 2026, the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) in Malawi brought together 150 students, youth leaders, academics and development partners to mark the inaugural International Day of Women in Industry (IDWI) proclaimed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as part of the broader celebrations of the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF).

Organized by the World Food Forum (WFF) Malawi Youth Chapter, the event, titled "Opportunities and Careers for Young Women in Agrifood Systems, with a Focus on the Coffee Value Chain", was supported by the UNIDO ACT Coffee Programme, the WFF Youth Initiative hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the UN Women team in Malawi.

The event highlighted the critical role of women and young people across agrifood systems and value chains, while exploring pathways to strengthen their participation in agribusiness, entrepreneurship and industry. Participants highlighted that young women continue to face barriers to accessing land, finance, technology, training and decision-making spaces.

Opening remarks were delivered by Liveness Banda from LUANAR, followed by Francesca Zoppi, Strategic Advisor and Social Inclusion Pillar Lead at UNIDO, who introduced the ACT Coffee Programme and its efforts to strengthen the sustainability and climate resilience of African coffee value chains, highlighting the work the programme is conducting to empower women and youth Victor Muiru Mugo from the WFF Youth Initiative team also highlighted the importance of empowering young people as drivers of agrifood systems transformation.

Discussions were anchored by an impact screening of Return to Land, directed by Lauren Groenewald, facilitated through the WFF Youth Film Festival and the WFF Impact Screening Toolkit on women in agrifood systems. The film follows two young farmers in Malawi and explores themes of rural livelihoods, intergenerational knowledge, women's leadership and the opportunities that agriculture can offer young people.

The screening was followed by a panel discussion that brought together representatives from agriculture, academia, civil society and the private sector. Weyani Salome Chirwa, the protagonist featured in the film, reflected on farming as a source of livelihood, identity and resilience. Tawonga Msowoya, , a gender and sustainability practitioner specializing in climate-smart and gender-responsive coffee value chains, highlighted the challenges women face in accessing secure land rights, particularly within coffee value chains, while Sara Msambira, a member of the WFF Agrifood Leadership Education Programme on Young Women, emphasized the importance of mentorship and leadership development.

Representatives from academia and the private sector further discussed the need for stronger links between education and industry, practical skills development, access to finance and market opportunities and greater support for women-led agribusinesses seeking to scale their operations.

The event concluded with remarks from Pamela Mkwamba of UN Women Malawi and reaffirmed the importance of translating awareness into action. Participants highlighted the need for continued investment in youth- and women-led enterprises, stronger partnerships across sectors and greater inclusion of young women in agrifood systems and industry.

The Chapter continues to create opportunities for young people to engage in dialogue, build skills and contribute solutions toward more inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.