By Brenard Mwanza
As the Catholic Church in Malawi commemorates 125 years of evangelisation, the Archdiocese of Lilongwe has launched the Tiyende Limodzi Endowment Fund, a long-term financing initiative aimed at securing the Church’s mission through sustainable local resource mobilisation amid declining donor support.
Launched during a gala dinner in Lilongwe on Saturday, 25th July 2026, the fund seeks to establish a permanent investment base that will finance the Church’s work in education, healthcare and community development while reducing reliance on external aid.
Speaking at the launch, Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa, described the initiative as a response to the growing demand for social services and the need to build a sustainable future.
“The Church has schools, but the population is growing and we need more schools. We have hospitals, but they are under increasing pressure and require more equipment. This initiative is about working together with generous Malawians to continue transforming lives and developing our country,” he said.
Bishop Mwakhwawa said the fund reflects a spirit of solidarity, calling on Malawians to unite their resources to support the vulnerable and ensure that future generations continue benefiting from the Church’s social ministries.
He expressed confidence that the fund’s target of MK10 billion is attainable, saying Church leaders would engage the corporate sector, business community and individuals across the country while encouraging all people of goodwill to contribute.
Minister of Finance Joseph Mwanamvekha, who attended the launch as a keynote speaker, described the endowment fund as a significant milestone that would strengthen the Church’s contribution to Malawi’s socio-economic development.
He said the investment fund would allow individuals, companies and other partners to contribute resources that would be professionally managed to generate sustainable returns for development programmes.
“The Catholic Church is a major development partner. It operates primary and secondary schools, universities and hospitals. This fund will strengthen the Church’s capacity to continue complementing government efforts in promoting sustainable and inclusive development,” said Mwanamvekha.
Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Philip Madinga, said the establishment of the endowment fund marks a strategic response to changing global development financing and the need for Malawi to become more self-reliant.
“As a country, we have depended on donor support for many years. With changing global realities and declining aid, we must increasingly find domestic solutions to finance our development,” he said.
Madinga said the fund will provide sustainable and permanent financing for the Church’s mission, particularly in education, healthcare and social services, ensuring that ministries which have served Malawians for more than a century continue well into the future.
He added that the Board of Trustees would manage the fund with integrity, professionalism and strong governance to build public confidence and ensure responsible growth of the investment.
The launch of the Tiyende Limodzi Endowment Fund comes as the Catholic Church in Malawi celebrates 125 years of evangelisation, signalling a shift from dependence on external assistance towards locally driven and sustainable financing of its mission.
For more than a century, the Church has remained one of Malawi’s leading providers of education, healthcare and social services, and leaders say the new fund is intended to preserve that legacy for generations to come.