
As part of ongoing efforts to support and promote youth-led innovation, the Executive Director of the National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM), Mr. Rex Chapota, joined the Youth Innovation Fund (YIF) Due Diligence team in Nkhata Bay to assess and appreciate promising ideas submitted by young innovators for the Fund.
During the visit, the team made stops in Chintheche and Sanga, where applicants shared their projects with the aim of securing support through the YIF.
In Chintheche, the team engaged with Youth Towards Development, a local youth group applying green technology in resourceful ways. Among their initiatives are eco-friendly briquettes made from sawdust and rice husks, as well as pavement blocks crafted from melted plastic and sand — innovative uses of everyday waste materials.
After a detailed pitch, Mr. Chapota commended the group for their creativity and commitment to sustainability. “This is the kind of innovation Malawi needs,” he said. “But I challenge you to think bigger. The next time I visit Chintheche, I would like to see an industry — not just a project. That is the spirit of the Youth Innovation Fund: nurturing ideas that are scalable and impactful.”
He further underscored the uniqueness of the Youth Innovation Fund, noting that unlike other funding streams, YIF places a strong emphasis on innovation. “You must ask yourselves — what truly sets your processes apart?” he said, urging the youth to refine and scale their innovations with purpose.
Program Officer Mr. Felix Chiyenda, who is leading the Due Diligence process in the North, echoed the ED’s remarks and hinted that the group could potentially qualify for Tier 2 funding, having demonstrated that they are beyond the idea stage.

In Sanga, the team met 27-year-old Rodrick Katete, an eco-tourism innovator with a Master’s Degree in Tourism and a lecturer at Mzuzu University. His concept brings together community training, creative reuse of waste, and cultural expression through visual storytelling — a layered vision with the potential to open new spaces in sustainable tourism.
“No country develops without ideas,” Mr. Chapota said. “It is encouraging to see young people thinking critically and creatively about the future. I commend His Excellency the President for his political will and commitment to investing in youth-led innovation. This is the direction Malawi must take.”
To ensure nationwide coverage and transparency, NYCOM has dispatched four teams across the country, each accompanied by the respective District Youth Officer or a designated representative. This collaborative approach underscores the Council’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with decentralized structures in delivering programmes that are grounded in local realities.
Already, the Council is actively engaging strategic partners to grow the Youth Innovation Fund into a sustainable force for youth development. The foundation is in place — now is the time to build boldly, and together.
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