“Protect your data the way you protect your dignity.” That message strongly resonated with us at ACADES during last week’s Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) Data Protection Conference at BICC, attended by our M&E team.

As we work to provide access to financing and digital solutions for rural youth, we handle sensitive personal and financial data as part of our daily programming. The conference reaffirmed our responsibility as data controllers and processors to protect this data with the same care and accountability we apply to stewarding resources, building trust with communities, and supporting sustainable livelihoods.

Discussions highlighted the need for strong internal systems, including a dedicated Data Protection Officer (DPO), clear compliance frameworks, and the responsible use of data-driven tools such as AI. We also value initiatives like MACRA’s Digital Ambassadors, which align with our belief that digitally empowered rural youth are key to Malawi’s economic transformation.

We commend MACRA for bringing together government, the private sector, and civil society around Privacy by Design. For ACADES, data protection is fundamental to the trust we build with the communities we serve, and without that trust, sustainable financing and youth-led agribusiness growth cannot succeed.