By Khumbo Msambala Salanje & Roy Howa
The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) National Innovation ICT Awards initiative slated for April 21, 2026, is expected to stimulate innovation across Malawi’s ICT ecosystem by providing a high-level platform for ICT start-ups, allowing researchers and enterprises to showcase their home-grown digital solutions.
MACRA Head of International Relations and Corporate Communications, Limbani Nsapato, shared the optimism in an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA), saying the initiative seeks to inspire creativity, while recognising and promoting locally developed digital solutions that support Malawi’s socio-economic development, in line with the aspirations of Malawi 2063.
“Recognition at this level boosts visibility and opens doors to international exposure, enabling innovators to connect with global networks and potential partners,” said Nsapato, and he continued:
“This visibility not only validates their work, but it also attracts opportunities for collaboration, funding and market expansion,”.
Nsapato noted that as the world rapidly advances in the digital space, digital innovation is increasingly critical in addressing Malawi’s socio-economic challenges by offering scalable, efficient and cost-effective solutions across key sectors, highlighting the need to identify and nurture promising innovations across the country.
He added that innovations in sectors such as agriculture, health, education, financial services and governance play a crucial role in improving service delivery, enhancing productivity and expanding access to essential services, particularly for underserved communities.
Meanwhile, Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) has commended the ICT Innovation Awards initiative, saying recognising and nurturing innovative talent plays a vital role in strengthening Malawi’s capacity in science, technology and digital transformation.
In a separate interview, Mayeso Kachingwe, a lecturer in Food Science and Technology within the Department of Engineering at MUST, said the awards provide an effective platform for exposing young innovators to potential partners, investors and policymakers.
Kachingwe added that the exposure would increase the chances that promising research outputs from universities can be scaled up and commercialised.
A graduate of MUST, Maurice Juma, has since observed that many innovators struggle to sustain their projects due to limited access to resources, particularly funding, which often undermines their motivation to continue developing innovative solutions.
“Many innovators lack the resources, especially funding, to further develop their prototypes and they consequently lose the motivation to continue innovating,” said Juma in an interview with MANA.
He added: “The introduction of this initiative would greatly contribute to local problem-solving, resulting in the development of sustainable solutions that directly address the challenges faced by Malawians.”
Juma further noted that the initiative would contribute to the improvement of Malawi’s key development sectors, including agriculture, education, energy, health, and manufacturing.
Currently, MACRA is calling for applications from Malawian citizens, Malawi-registered entities, ICT start-ups, SMEs, technology enterprises, students, academic institutions and research organisations, with March 14 set as the application deadline.
Eligible applicants are encouraged to submit their entries promptly to take advantage of the high-profile opportunity to showcase innovative solutions and gain national and international recognition.
The top two finalists will receive an all-expenses-paid opportunity to present their innovations at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Artificial Intelligence for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Switzerland, besides exposure through national media and networking opportunities with investors, operators and industry partners.
The finalists will also enjoy business incubation, mentorship and technical advisory services, according to MACRA.
The National Innovation Awards will also commemorate World Creativity and Innovation Day, an initiative aimed at celebrating and promoting innovative solutions that are driving digital transformation and sustainable development in Malawi.
