About PAWEM

The Patient & Community Welfare Foundation of Malawi (PAWEM) is a community-focused civil society organization committed to advancing patient rights, strengthening health system accountability, and amplifying the voices of vulnerable communities across all 28 districts in Malawi. PAWEM believes that communities are not merely recipients of health services—they are active rights holders who must be empowered to monitor, document, and advocate for the services they deserve.

As Malawi’s lead implementing organization for the Community Health Rights Watch Initiative (CHRWI), PAWEM brings together community structures, civil society networks, government partners, and development partners in a unified national effort.

When PAWEM recently appeared before the Parliamentary Health Committee to discuss the growing problem of drug theft in public health facilities, one message stood out clearly: communities must be part of the solution. During the meeting, Members of Parliament emphasized the importance of strengthening community participation in protecting public health resources. PAWEM used the opportunity to advocate for stronger whistleblower protection policies and highlighted the need to create safe channels for citizens to report drug theft, corruption, and other health rights violations without fear of intimidation or retaliation.

Building on these discussions, PAWEM is now rolling out the Community Health Rights Watch Initiative (CHRWI), a nationwide community-based program that will operate in all 28 districts of Malawi.

The initiative will establish a network of Health Volunteer Journalists who will work closely with communities to identify, document, and report health rights concerns. Through community dialogues, health rights committees, and digital reporting systems, citizens will have a stronger voice in protecting healthcare services and ensuring that essential medicines reach the people who need them most.

Available Position

Health Volunteer Journalist

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, document, and report health rights concerns within their communities.
• Write and disseminate human-interest stories and reports on health system accountability issues.
• Support community whistleblowers by documenting suspected drug theft, diversion of medicines, corruption, discrimination, or other abuses within the health system.
• Participate in community dialogues and health rights committees.
• Use digital reporting systems to submit verified reports to PAWEM.

Eligibility Requirements

All applicants must meet the following criteria:

Education

• Health Volunteer Journalists: Diploma/Certificate in Journalism, Media Studies, or Mass Communication.

Residency

• Must be a resident of the district where you are applying to work.

Equipment

• Must possess an Android smartphone capable of taking photos, recording videos, and accessing the internet.

Values & Commitment

• Must demonstrate a passion for social justice, patient rights, and health equity.
• Must be committed to advocating for patient rights and health system accountability.
• Willing to work in your community and serve vulnerable populations.

• Identify, document, and report health rights concerns within their communities.
• Write and disseminate human-interest stories and reports on health system accountability issues.
• Support community whistleblowers by documenting suspected drug theft, diversion of medicines, corruption, discrimination, or other abuses within the health system.
• Participate in community dialogues and health rights committees.
• Use digital reporting systems to submit verified reports to PAWEM.

• Android smartphone capable of taking photos, recording videos, and accessing the internet.
• Passion for social justice, patient rights, and health equity.
• Commitment to advocating for patient rights and health system accountability.
• Willingness to work in your community and serve vulnerable populations.

• Diploma/Certificate in Journalism, Media Studies, or Mass Communication.
• Must be a resident of the district where you are applying to work.
• Must possess an Android smartphone capable of taking photos, recording videos, and accessing the internet.
• Must demonstrate a passion for social justice, patient rights, and health equity.
• Must be committed to advocating for patient rights and health system accountability.
• Willing to work in your community and serve vulnerable populations.