Sustainable development is most successful when communities shape decisions that affect their lives.
This message was at the core of a regional webinar held on June 2, 2026, gathering young leaders, academics, civil society representatives, policy makers, and community advocates from Malawi, Zimbabwe, and the Kingdom of Eswatini to explore how community-led development (CLD) can address some of the region’s most pressing challenges and create a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration.
We organized the webinar with the Department of Human Ecology at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR). The department equips students with action research skills that help them work alongside communities to identify local challenges and co-create practical solutions.
Although community-led approaches are gaining momentum across the region, participants acknowledged that many development actors still have a limited understanding of how CLD is implemented in practice, what contributes to its success, and how effective community-driven initiatives can be scaled. The webinar, therefore, sought to bridge this knowledge gap by sharing practical experiences, fostering learning, and encouraging meaningful dialogue on locally led development.
Youth participants emphasized that meaningful CLD requires deliberate investment in young people through capacity-building initiatives, increased access to youth-led funding opportunities, and genuine representation in decision-making processes.
“Youth are leaders of today, not tomorrow, and investing in youth means investing in Africa’s future.”
Louis Mhango
Participants agreed that empowering young people is essential to achieving sustainable and inclusive development.
Throughout the discussions, speakers highlighted that CLD extends far beyond community consultation. Rather than viewing communities as beneficiaries, CLD positions them as equal partners in identifying priorities, designing solutions, implementing interventions, and monitoring progress.
Beyond youth participation, civil society representatives reinforced the value of CLD as an approach that responds to the real needs and aspirations of communities. They noted that when communities are actively involved in shaping development interventions, they develop a stronger sense of ownership, which significantly enhances the sustainability of projects. Speakers further stressed that successful CLD deliberately includes marginalized groups, including young people, women, and persons with disabilities, in decision-making and leadership processes.
Policymakers echoed these perspectives. The Chairperson of the Malawi Parliamentary Committee on Social and Community Affairs, Hon. Savel Kafwafwa, underscored the important role of Members of Parliament in engaging communities beyond political interests. He encouraged members of parliament to ensure that development priorities are informed by the genuine needs and aspirations of citizens and emphasized that political manifestos should reflect community priorities. He also highlighted the importance of balancing local knowledge with credible evidence to inform effective policymaking and development planning.
Participants concluded that sustainable development is best achieved when experts and communities work as equal partners. Dr. Madhlopa from Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources emphasized that research and development initiatives should intentionally incorporate indigenous knowledge through collaborative and participatory approaches.
“Actors should stop doing business as usual, which has been benefiting a few at the expense of many -these lead to frustration, hence little or no tangible outcomes”.
Dr. Madhlopa
The webinar reinforced a simple but powerful message: academia, communities, civil society, and policymakers should put the interests, aspirations and priorities of communities at the center of development interventions.