Representatives from governments and international development organisations met in Lilongwe, Malawi from 19 to 21 February 2019 to discuss the ‘Theory of Change and Monitoring and Evaluation’ framework for the Lifelong Learning for Mothers and Out-of-School Girls (L3M) project planned for the Mchinji district in Malawi.

The L3M is COL’s cross-cutting project in collaboration with the Lifelong Learning for Farmers (L3F) and Open Schooling initiatives. The project aims to empower women farmers, mothers and girls in lifelong education through information and communication technologies based in open distance learning.

The Malawi Human Rights Commission, Ministries of Education, Gender and Labour, as well as UNICEF, Oxfam and local NGOs came together to review the framework. Chief Noor Imani Frank, the Chairman of the National Caucus of Chiefs in Malawi, established by COMSEC, was also in attendance.

“This project will benefit us even if it is only implemented in one district first. It will be a learning process for other districts where there is gender violence – for them to implement the project in the future,” said Chief Imani Frank.

COL’s Senior Adviser: Women & Girls, Ms Frances J. Ferreira, spoke on the need for close involvement from stakeholders going forward, “Ensuring ownership of the project is key for the success of L3M, so it is important to engage various stakeholders through a collective and participatory process to harmonise the perspective on gender equality.”