Increasing Meaningful Participation
CAVWOC's governance programs are designed to increase meaningful participation of women and youth in local decision-making platforms such as Area Development Committees (ADCs), Village Development Committees (VDCs), and District Councils. This work is critical for achieving equitable community development and supports Malawi's decentralization goals.
Recognizing that true representation requires more than just a seat at the table, CAVWOC focuses on removing systemic barriers and building leadership capacity—where Mobile Courts and the Star Circle Approach come together to create powerful synergies for inclusive governance.
Our Holistic Approach
Breaking Barriers, Building Power
Mobile Courts: Bringing Justice Closer
Mobile Courts are an innovative justice delivery mechanism that brings formal legal proceedings directly to rural communities. By eliminating geographic and financial barriers, they provide access to justice for vulnerable populations, including survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), victims of land grabbing, and widows denied inheritance.
Mobile Court Session in TA Phwereme, Phalombe
Star Circle Approach: Building Leadership
Complementing legal empowerment, CAVWOC's Star Circle Approach builds the capacity of women and youth to take active roles in governance and accountability. This participatory methodology helps community members—especially marginalized groups—identify, analyze, and solve problems through collective action.
Women Forum during their discussions TA Kasongo
Impact of Mobile Courts
Transformative Justice Access
Implemented in partnership with Malawi's judiciary, police, and traditional leaders, these mobile courts offer both adjudication and public legal education. Community members not only witness justice in action but also learn about their rights.
One widow in Traditional Authority (T/A) Phweremwe shared how, after her husband's death, in-laws unlawfully seized her property, leaving her and her children destitute. With support from a mobile court session, she successfully reclaimed her assets—restoring both her economic security and dignity. Today, she's an active advocate for women's rights in her community.
This model has demystified the legal process, empowered women to report GBV, and increased local understanding of the law. Women now participate more confidently in local leadership and decision-making processes, transforming justice from an abstract concept into a tool for real social change.
Mobile court session demanded by the community in Phweremwe Phalombe
Community Testimonies
"Mobile courts should have come earlier. We suffered in silence for years. I lost property during a divorce—livestock, a motorbike, and household items I owned before marriage. Many other women experienced similar injustices. But that changed when CAVWOC brought mobile courts to our doorstep."
She further emphasized that men are now more cautious about their behavior, as women have learned how and where to report abuse, what support they can access, and how justice can be pursued. She strongly recommended expanding mobile court coverage to reach remote villages that remain underserved.
Aidah Njobvu, Chairperson of the Phweremwe Women's Forum
Aidah Njobvu participating in a group discussion about the impact of mobile court in her area
Star Circle Approach in Action
Building Long-Term Leadership
Rooted in principles of gender equality and local ownership, Star Circles turn passive beneficiaries into empowered agents of change.
Success Story: Nkhwayi Health Center
In Kasongo, women used the Star Circle model to identify service delivery failures at Nkhwayi Health Center in Phalombe: late openings, early closures, and poor security were affecting access to care. Equipped with advocacy skills, they engaged the Hospital Advisory Committee to hold health staff accountable. As a result, by September 2024, services had returned to full operation.
With tools like megaphones and branded reflectors, these women amplified their voices and visibly took ownership of change in their communities.
Community members participating in a Star Circle discussion
A Holistic Model for Governance Reform
By combining immediate access to justice through Mobile Courts with the capacity-building of Star Circles, CAVWOC creates a multiplier effect. Women who win legal cases often go on to join Star Circles, deepening their civic engagement and advocacy.
These empowered women are now influencing key decisions—mobilizing resources for maternal health, advocating for GBV prevention initiatives, and challenging discriminatory policies at local levels. Their leadership is not only visible but impactful.
This integrated model represents CAVWOC's holistic vision of governance reform: beyond numerical representation, it fosters transformational inclusion—where women and youth drive development priorities and shape decisions that affect their lives.
Access to Justice
Mobile Courts eliminate barriers to legal services for vulnerable communities
Community Empowerment
Star Circles build leadership capacity and collective problem-solving
Sustainable Impact
Integrated approach creates lasting change in governance systems
Our Partners in Governance
Collaborating for justice and inclusive governance
More Thematic Areas
Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights
Engaging leaders, youth, and health systems to increase access and education around SRHR while challenging harmful practices.
Learn MoreEducation
Supporting school access and retention through bursaries, bicycles, and learning centers. Over 20,000 children supported.
Learn MoreLivelihoods
Training women and girls in entrepreneurship, forming savings groups, and linking them to markets for income generation.
Learn More
Support Our Governance Programs
Help us expand access to justice and build inclusive governance systems that empower women and youth.
