LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-In a strong push to close the skills gap among young people, Malawi government has teamed up with Emerging Public Leaders (EPL) to launch the Public Service Fellowship Program (PSFP).

The fellowship is aimed at young professionals aged 18 to 35, particularly fresh university graduates and early-career public servants.

Speaking during the launch, Emmanuel Lubembe, a representative of the EPL Global Board, said the program is designed to attract young, smart, and motivated individuals who are passionate about public service.

According to Lubembe the fellows will be placed in government ministries, departments, and agencies, where are to receive training and mentorship to help them grow into future public sector leaders.

“Through hands-on experience, mentorship, and leadership development, these young people will get the skills and support they need to become visionary leaders,”

“So far, EPL has trained over 1,000 fellows, and we are committed to ensuring that at least 70% of future cohorts are women.”said Lubembe.

He added that EPL plans to expand the program across six African countries as part of its mission to build inclusive and effective civil services on the continent.

Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Colleen Zamba, who graced the launch event, praised the initiative as a timely and strategic response to the growing skills gap in the public sector.

She emphasized that empowering young professionals throughfellowships is key to building a stronger, more capable civil service that can meet the demands of modern governance.

“The launch of PSFP in Malawi is a major step in that direction offering young people not just jobs, but a chance to lead change from within government,”said Zamba.

Founded in 2016, EPL’s mission is to improve governance in Africa by building a pipeline of ethical, well-trained public servants.