The Emerging Public Leaders of Malawi (EPL) participated in the 2025 Emerging Public Leaders Alumni Network Global Gathering, held from 24th to 25th April in Accra, Ghana.
This annual event, which provides a platform for knowledge sharing, experience exchange, and cross-border collaboration, brought together government officials, EPL management teams, fellows, and alumni from Liberia, Kenya, Malawi, and Ghana, EPL partners and stakeholders.
EPL Malawi fellows, who were recruited in September 2024, are eager to join the 500+ Alumni network of young and mid-career leaders across Africa in October this year. In anticipation, EPL Malawi used this opportunity to gain valuable insights into life after the fellowship.
Two fellows, Zahira Banda, the President of the first cohort, posted at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Fredrich Maluza, the General secretary of the first cohort, posted at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, represented the 35 fellows of EPL Malawi’s inaugural cohort.
The Malawi delegation also included the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission, Commissioner Arthur Chibwana; the Principal Secretary for the Department of Human Resource Management and Development (DHRMD), Mr. Ian Chingwalu; the Country Director, Mrs. Linda Harawa; Senior Programs and Learning Associate, Mr. Khwima Kondowe; and other senior government officials.
The event, themed “Governance Reimagined: Driving Transformative Change within the Public Service in Africa”, featured keynote speeches, prestigious awards, panel discussions on cross-border collaborative governance, digital governance transformation, and sustainable development leadership, among others. “This marked a key moment for reflecting on the shift from business as usual to business unusual.”
In his speech, Mr Chibwana highlighted Malawi’s commitment to transformative change within the public service stating that the youth are the face and voice of ethical leadership. He encouraged the alumni to be the agents of the much-needed transformative leadership in Africa.
