Malawi: Women making inroads in an unlikely trade

The article profiles Sphiwe Msiska, a senior public servant and entrepreneur who is building a business in Malawi’s sunflower oil production sector. It highlights her role as Director of Administration in the Ministry of Industrialization, Business, Trade and Tourism, alongside her leadership of MCM Investments, a company she founded to focus on crop value addition and trade facilitation. 
 
Through MCM Investments, Msiska produces sunflower cooking oil and sunflower cake, working closely with smallholder farmers and cooperatives, many of them women. The company supports farmers through input loans, extension services and guaranteed markets, while also creating employment opportunities for young professionals, particularly women graduates. 
 
The story places Msiska’s work within the broader context of Malawi’s growing cooking oil industry, which faces increasing competition from large-scale investors. It underscores the importance of women-led enterprises in strengthening local value chains, expanding job creation and promoting inclusive agricultural and industrial development. 

Written by Chancy Namadzunda. This article, first published by Atlas Media, is part of the Media Parity Capacity Building Programme and republished as part of the programme series.

LINK TO PUBLISHED STORY:

https://atlasmalawi.com/women-making-inroads-in-an-unlikely-trade/

DISCLAIMER: 

This media article was co-funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the EU Marang Fund Media Partner, L'express, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.