Women Engineers in Malawi Break Barriers on Girls in ICT Day

Changing the Narrative: How Women in Malawi Are Leading the Digital Future

International Girls in ICT Day 2026 is not a celebration of what might happen someday. It is a recognition of what is already underway.

In Malawi, women make up 5% of engineers. That statistic is changing. A record number of young women are now enrolling in technology courses, dismantling cultural barriers that have kept them out of technical fields for generations. At Unconnected.org, we know that bridging the digital divide in the world's most remote regions is impossible without women's voices, ideas, and leadership. Empowering girls in ICT is not about teaching them to code or install infrastructure alone. It is about giving them the tools to design their own futures.

To understand what this shift looks like on the ground, we spoke with Eddah Nkhata and Bernadetta Phiri, two computer engineers leading connectivity projects across Malawi.

Challenging the Bias

Neither Eddah nor Bernadetta had female role models in technology when they were growing up. In many communities across Malawi, cultural expectations dictate that technical work belongs to men.

"We have grown into a culture whereby men are over women," Bernadetta explains. "There is a stereotype that this field is for men mostly. When a lady tries to bring up an implementation plan, it becomes a hard thing for them to take."

But by consistently bringing their expertise to the table, these women are rewriting the rules. Bernadetta notes that her colleagues no longer filter her through gender limitations. They see a technician. They see an engineer. She has become the go-to person for problem-solving.

Seeing Is Believing

The impact of this representation extends far beyond their immediate colleagues. It reaches the next generation.

During a recent school connectivity project, Bernadetta arrived on site in her work suit and boots. The local teachers and students were shocked, insisting that climbing the roof to install equipment was not a job for a woman. Bernadetta climbed the roof anyway, managing the exterior installation while her male colleagues handled the indoor cables.

The students were so captivated that they left their classrooms to watch. After the installation, Bernadetta spoke with them. When she asked how many wanted to be like her, nearly every hand went up.

By simply doing her job, she fundamentally changed what those girls believed was possible for their own lives.

A Path for Everyone

A major barrier for young girls is the misconception of what a career in ICT actually looks like. Many assume it is strictly heavy calculations or physical labor.

Eddah is passionate about demystifying the industry. "It's not only about people climbing the towers," she says. "Technology is broad. We have people doing databases, networking, data analysis, and hardware. There is actually a path for everyone who would like to pursue this."

By connecting schools and serving as guest speakers, engineers like Eddah and Bernadetta are showing girls that their critical thinking and creativity are desperately needed in the digital space.

Empower Her, Change the World

If we push women away from technology, we push away brilliant ideas. Embracing diversity in thought and leadership is the only way we can effectively bridge the digital divide.

Bernadetta summarizes it perfectly: "When a girl is taught, that means the whole nation has been taught. And that will go a long way in terms of development as a community."

To every girl in Malawi and around the world dreaming of a future in tech: there is a place for you here.

See the full interview below with Eddah and Bernadetta, and learn how you can support digital inclusion projects that empower women across the globe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is International Girls in ICT Day?  

International Girls in ICT Day is a global initiative celebrated on the fourth Thursday of April each year to encourage girls and young women to pursue careers in information and communication technology. The day includes events, workshops, and mentorship opportunities designed to break down gender stereotypes in technical fields.

Why does gender representation matter in technology and engineering?  

Gender representation in technology matters because diverse perspectives lead to better solutions. When women are excluded from technical fields, we lose access to half the population's ideas, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Representation also transforms what the next generation believes is possible. When girls see women engineers, they are more likely to pursue those careers themselves.

What percentage of engineers in Malawi are women?  

Women currently make up approximately 5% of engineers in Malawi. However, this is changing as a record number of young women are now enrolling in technology and engineering courses across the country.

What does unconnected.org do to support women in technology?

unconnected.org connects underserved communities to affordable internet while actively supporting women's leadership in digital inclusion projects. The organization works with local organisations employing women likje engineers like Eddah Nkhata and Bernadetta Phiri to lead connectivity installations, providing visible role models for girls in communities where technical work has traditionally been reserved for men. Also 50% of all people worming within unconnected.org are female.

What kinds of careers exist in ICT beyond engineering and coding?

ICT careers are incredibly diverse and include database management, networking, data analysis, cybersecurity, user experience design, project management, technical writing, systems administration, digital marketing, and hardware maintenance. As engineer Eddah Nkhata explains, technology is broad and there is a path for everyone who wants to pursue it.

How can I support digital inclusion projects that empower women?  

You can support digital inclusion and women's empowerment in technology by visiting unconnected.org to learn about ongoing projects, making a donation to expand connectivity in underserved communities, or sharing stories of women engineers to amplify their visibility and impact.