2026 Annual Malawi Social Entrepreneurship and SME
Conference and Expo | Registration

Sustaining Impact in Social Enterprises and SMEs:
Building Resilience in Finance and Market Readiness

The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Sustaining Impact in Social Enterprises and SMEs – Building Resilience in Finance and Market Readiness’, a platform for stakeholders to discuss innovative solutions, share best practices, and forge collaborations.

Transforming Social Ministries into Sustainable Social Enterprises

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Date & Time

6th August 2026

8.00 am – 5.00 pm (CAT)

Venue

Crossroads Hotel, Lilongwe, Malawi

Cost

Free

Exhibition

Free for Sisters

Limited Slots Available on a first come first serve basis. Not more than two people per exhibition table.

Objectives

Across Africa, social enterprises and SMEs are the primary engines for inclusive development. However, many remain trapped in survival mode due to:

  • Capital Gaps: Persistent hurdles in accessing finance.
  • Market Isolation: Weak linkages to regional and global value chains.
  • Digital Deficits: Insufficient adoption of transformative technologies.
  • Fragmented Ecosystems: A lack of collaborative networks to drive scale.

A distinctive pillar of this series is our focus on faith-based social enterprises, including those led by Catholic sisters and religious institutions. These organizations operate at the critical intersection of mission and market, providing essential services in healthcare, education, and agriculture in underserved regions.

The conference provides a unique, intentional space for these institutions to:

  • Integrate into broader commercial markets.
  • Navigate governance transitions.
  • Balance social purpose with commercial viability.
  • Engage in cross-sector peer learning with mainstream SMEs.

Overview

Background

Across Africa, social enterprises and SMEs are doing incredible work, tackling massive social and environmental challenges while creating jobs. But let’s be real—staying afloat isn’t easy. Many of these businesses constantly struggle with limited funding, weak market connections, and a lack of digital tools. This is especially true for faith-based enterprises, like those run by Catholic sisters. They have deep community trust and provide vital healthcare and education, but they really wrestle with balancing their social mission with financial survival.

That is exactly why this conference matters. We are bringing mainstream and faith-based businesses together to break down these barriers, share practical skills, and figure out how to move from just surviving to truly thriving in today’s market.

The theme for this year is Sustaining Impact in Social Enterprises and SMEs – Building Resilience in Finance and Market Readiness.

Conference Outcomes

  1. Internal Growth (What they learn to do inside the business)
  • Boost market readiness: Businesses leave stronger, resilient, and ready to compete.
  • Go digital: Teams actually adopt and use smart tech to improve everyday operations.
  • Go green: Enterprises weave climate-smart, eco-friendly habits into how they run.

2. External Connections (How they plug into the wider ecosystem)

  • Unlock funding: Participants map out clear pathways to secure money from banks and financial partners.
  • Build networks: Founders bridge borders, creating strong cross-country partnerships across Africa.

3. Mindset & Momentum (The energy they take home)

  • Stay inspired: Everyone leaves energized, deeply connected, and fully equipped to keep making a difference.

Registration Form

Registration is Now Closed Thank you for your interest in the Malawi Conference. Registrations are officially closed, and we are no longer accepting new submissions. If you have already registered, keep an eye on your inbox for attendee updates, schedule details, and event instructions. For urgent support, please contact us at sbvpcommunications@strathmore.edu

Target Participants

This event is designed to motivate and educate social entrepreneurs, providing them with valuable insights and practical advice they can apply to their own entrepreneurial endeavours.

Contacts

For more information, reach out to