SASA! Together: A transformative approach to preventing violence in Malawi

The Pamodzi Kuthetsa Nkhanza (PKN) programme continues to gain momentum in Malawi with technical support from SASA! Together Technical Advisor, Gabriella Pinto, who recently visited the country to appreciate the implementation of the approach.

Pinto, who works closely with the What Works to Prevent Violence initiative, travelled to Balaka and Lilongwe to meet with the PKN Consortium team and community members. Her visit provided an opportunity to appreciate how SASA! Together, an evidence-based methodology, is being put into practice to prevent violence against women and girls.

SASA! Together is not just a theory—it is a proven community-driven approach that challenges harmful social norms and promotes healthier, more respectful relationships.

Through facilitated discussions, collective action, and engagement of diverse community actors, the approach empowers individuals to reflect on power dynamics in their relationships and everyday lives. This, in turn, helps reduce the risks of intimate partner violence (IPV) and fosters safer communities.

In Malawi, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)-funded PKN programme is being implemented in selected Traditional Authorities in Balaka and Lilongwe districts. The programme brings together a consortium of partners who are working with traditional leaders, the police, government, men, and women to address the root causes of violence.

During her field visits, Pinto joined activities that showcased how communities are embracing the SASA! Together methodology. From interactive sessions with men and women in villages to dialogues with local leaders, she witnessed the programme’s impact in shifting attitudes, building solidarity, and supporting survivors of violence.

Through the PKN programme, with the support of FCDO and the guidance of What Works, Malawi is taking important steps towards a future where women and girls can live free from violence.