Emmily Kamwendo-Naphambo
Dr. Emmily Kamwendo-Naphambo | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Researcher |
| Title | Dr. |
| Academic background | |
| Education | BSc University of Malawi
|
| Alma mater | Lund University |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Sociology |
| Sub-discipline | Sexual and reproductive health and rights |
| Institutions | United Nations Population Fund |
Emmily Kamwendo-Naphambo is a Malawian sociologist and development practioner specializing in the humanitarian-development-peace nexus across Africa. Her work focuses on gender equality, child protection, and public health.[1] She is currently serves as the Deputy Representative for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Ghana.[2][3]
Academic Background
Originally from Malawi, Emmily's academic work has centered on the legal and social conditions of the vulnerable populace. She earned a master's degree in development studies from Lund University in 2009. Her thesis "The Invisible Prisoners"[4] examined the presence and experience of children within the prison systems in Malawi.[5]
In 2020, she completed a PhD in Sociology at the University of Cape Town (UCT) Her doctoral research.[6] which was supported by the African Pathways Scholarship, with funding from the National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS) and the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA)[7] explored how social and cultural norms define readiness for marriage among young girls.[8]
Career
Naphambo began her career with the Population Services International focusing on social norm change initiatives and youth engagement.[9]
She later contributed to national-level research by co-authoring the "Women Empowerment" chapter in the 2016 Malawi demographic and Health Survey in collaboration with the National Statistics Office.[10]
Her career included several roles focused on legislative and social reforms;
- Child Marriage Advocacy: While with Plan International, she launched the Plan 18+ to end child marriages in Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, with the aim to raise the legal marriage age from 15 to 18.[11]
- International Missions: She served with the United Nation Mission In South Sudan in 2019, where she coordinated child protection initiatives involving military forces during the South Sudanese Civil War.[12]
- UNFPA Leadership: In her current role at the UNFPA in Ghana[13][14][15][16], she overseas programs targeting maternal health, adolescent reproductive rights, and the reduction of gender-based violence.[17][18]
Research and Publications
Naphambo's research often examines the intersection of traditional authority and human rights. Her 2022 study in the Journal of Adolescent Health analyzed the influence of rural chiefs on girls' sexual and communal power structures.[19]
Her earlier work with Women and Law in Southern Africa (WSLA) resulted in the report "Poor, Invisible and Excluded: Women in State Custody Malawi" which documented the legal and living conditions of incarcerated women.[20] [21]
She has also contributed to the UNFPA–UNICEF joint acceleration paper titled Towards Zero Gender-Based Violence and Harmful Practices in West and Central Africa.[22]
She has also authored policy briefs for the South African Development Community (SADC) regarding the harmonization of national laws with the African Charter on Rights and Welfare of the Child.[23]
Selected Bibiliography
- Naphambo, E.K. (2020). (Re)constructing the African notion of girls' readiness for marriage: An exploratory study in Malawi. PhD thesis, University of Cape Town.[24]
- Naphambo, E.K. (2022). A Vexing Relationship Between Chiefship and Girls’ Sexuality: Insights from Rural Malawi. "Journal of Adolescent Health", 70(3 Suppl), S36–S42.[25]
- Naphambo, E.K. (2012). Children in Prisons of Malawi: The Invisible Prisoners..[26]
- National Statistical Office (2016). *Malawi Demographic and Health Survey*. Contributor – Women Empowerment chapter.[27]
References
- ^ "The political economy of child marriage in Africa". www.news.uct.ac.za. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
- ^ "TRAINING OF TRAINERS FOR MALE LEADERS IN THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR ON GENDER EQUALITY, SRHR AND ENDING (SGBV) USING THE NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR ENGAGING MEN AND BOYS : Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection". www.mogcsp.gov.gh. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
- ^ "Government and Development Partners align development priorities for Northern Ghana | United Nations in Ghana". ghana.un.org. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
- ^ "The Invisible Prisoners: A case of Children in Malawian Prisons. | Lund University". www.lunduniversity.lu.se. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
- ^ Naphambo, Emmily Kamwendo (2009). The Invisible Prisoners: A Case of Children in Malawian Prisons (MSc thesis). Lund University. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ (Re)constructing the African notion of girls’ readiness for marriage: insights from rural Malawi
- ^ uct.ac.za https://uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/content_migration/uct_ac_za/49/files/Graduation2020-December-Programme.pdf. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2025-04-18. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Naphambo, Emmily Kamwendo (2020). (Re)constructing the African notion of girls' readiness for marriage: An exploratory study in Malawi (PhD thesis). University of Cape Town. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ "Champions of Change - Introduction" (PDF). www.alignplatform.org.
- ^ Kawale, P.; Pagliari, C.; Grant, L. (2019). "Malawi Demographic and Health Survey 2015-16". Journal of Global Health. 9 (1). National Statistical Office: 010314. doi:10.7189/jogh.09.010314. PMC 6551483. PMID 31217952.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link) - ^ "Zimbabwean Government on Trial Over Marriage Age for Girls". Voice of America. 2015-01-21. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
- ^ "Military forces receive training on how to protect children in South Sudan". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
- ^ "UNFPA Ghana Advocates for Sustainable Investment in Women's". The New Independent Online. 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
- ^ "Championing Family Planning: UNFPA Deputy Rep calls for elevated gov't prioritization amid concerns over access, funding - Radio Univers 105.7fm". Radio Univers. 2023-09-28. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
- ^ "Ministry of Health launches Strategic Plan for Nursing and Midwifery | GhHeadlines Total News Total Information". news.ghheadlines.com. 2024-08-18. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
- ^ "We will support Ghana to achieve zero maternal death by 2030 – UNFPA". GhanaWeb. 14 April 2023.
- ^ "UNFPA Ghana hands over equipment to support maternal health and GBV". MCAN Ghana. 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ "Invest in transformative health outcomes to achieve SDG 5 – UNFPA". BusinessGhana. 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ Naphambo, Emmily Kamwendo (2022-03-01). "A Vexing Relationship Between Chiefship and Girls' Sexuality: Insights From Rural Malawi". Journal of Adolescent Health. 70 (3): S36 – S42. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.12.005. ISSN 1054-139X. PMID 35184828.
- ^ "Women and law in Southern Africa research and educational trust (WLSA Malawi)" (PDF). www.ecoi.net.
- ^ "Working to end child marriage". UNFPA ESARO. 2015-08-20. Archived from the original on 2023-04-24. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
- ^ UNFPA & UNICEF (2024). Towards Zero Gender-Based Violence and Harmful Practices in West and Central Africa [Acceleration Paper].
- ^ African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC). (2014). Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Retrieved from (accessed October 2023).
- ^ Kamwendo Naphambo, Emmily (2021-08-17). "(Re)constructing the African notion of girls' readiness for marriage: insights from rural Malawi". hdl:11427/33775.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Naphambo, Emmily Kamwendo (2022-03-01). "A Vexing Relationship Between Chiefship and Girls' Sexuality: Insights From Rural Malawi". Journal of Adolescent Health. 70 (3): S36 – S42. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.12.005. ISSN 1054-139X. PMID 35184828.
- ^ "Justice for Malawi's children – AfricanLII". africanlii.org. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
- ^ Mwandama, Redson; Nkhoma, Sydney; Dunga, Steven Henry (2025-11-24). "Demand for and use of modern contraception among young women aged 15–24 years in Malawi: evidence from the Malawi demographic health survey, 2015–2016". Frontiers in Reproductive Health. 7 1719985. doi:10.3389/frph.2025.1719985. ISSN 2673-3153. PMC 12682782. PMID 41367819.