Mihowa heads Oxfam Malawi

Oxfam Malawi has elevated its deputy country director Lingalireni Mihowa to the position of country director,  replacing John Makina who has since retired.

In a statement, Oxfam Southern Africa regional director Nellie Nyang’wa said Mihowa, who served as deputy country director since 2015, was appointed after “a rigorous and thorough recruitment process”.

She described Mihowa as a highly-motivated development practitioner with over 15 years of experience in development work with a focus in governance, gender equality and women’s rights, sexual and reproductive health, humanitarian work, livelihoods security and youth development.

Reads the statement announcing Mihowa’s appointment: “Mihowa has worked for Oxfam for over 10 years and prior to the appointment she served as interim country director of Oxfam in Papua New Guinea in 2016.

“Other positions she has held within Oxfam include gender and HIV adviser, programme coordinator for NGO partners and programme policy manager.”

Mihowa has also served as a senior technical adviser to UNFPA/Ministry of Gender and she has worked for the Malawi Government in senior advisory positions in the Office of the President.

She has also served in various other leadership positions, including serving as Commissioner for Special Law Commission on development of Malawi’s Gender Equality Act and co-founder of Young Women Leaders Network in Malawi.

Mihowa holds a master’s degree in leadership and change management with a focus on project management and a bachelor of social sciences as well as a diploma in NGO management.

Besides, she has attended several senior leadership programmes, including the Duke of Edinburg Leadership Programme, US State Department International Visitors Leadership Programme and the British Council Leadership Programmes.

With her qualifications, experience and exposure, Oxfam says it is confident that Mihowa will contribute towards the organisation’s vision of a world free from poverty and injustice.