In a bid to empower more women and girls to thrive in the digital space, the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) conducted a three-day Women and Girls in Cyber Conference at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.
The event, held under the theme “She Secures: Building a Stronger and Resilient Cyber Ecosystem in Malawi,” focused on promoting cyber safety, building skills, and encouraging digital inclusion.
The conference brought together women, girls, digital experts, policymakers, and students from across Malawi and beyond to discuss ways of creating a safer and more inclusive cyberspace for all.
Malawi’s First Lady Madam Monica Chakwera, emphasied the need to protect women and girls in the fast-growing digital world.
She encouraged them to be confident and visible in online spaces, assuring them that they are not alone.
Minister of Information and Digitalisation, Honourable Moses Kunkuyu Kalongashawa, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing policies and laws that protect women online.
He acknowledged challenges faced by women in digital spaces and highlighted steps being taken to close the safety and access gap.
MACRA Board Chairperson, Bridget Chibwana said the conference was part of MACRA’s ongoing efforts to build a cyber environment that includes and protects all, especially women and girls.
he called for more support and collaboration to advance the participation of women in the ICT sector.
The three-day conference featured practical cyber skills training, mentorship sessions, interactive panel discussions and networking opportunities aimed at equipping participants to navigate Malawi’s digital ecosystem safely and successfully.
Janet Tunsani, one of the participants from Lilongwe Girls Secondary School, said the event would have a positive impact on her personal development.
“This conference has helped me in many ways, especially through the grooming sessions and panel discussions. I have learnt to deal with imposter syndrome by writing down my achievements, avoiding comparisons and staying open to mentorship while remaining humble,” she said.
As the conference came to a close, MACRA and its partners called for continued efforts to build a secure, inclusive and empowering digital future for Malawi’s women and girls.
