Rachel Sibande, the computer scientist who wants to stimulate IT innovation in Malawi

Rachel Sibande is a computer scientist and one of the pioneers of technology innovation in Malawi. In 2014, she founded mHub, the first technology hub and incubator for emerging innovators and entrepreneurs in her country. A hub, which to date, has benefited over 40,000 young innovative entrepreneurs.

Passionate about gadgets since her early childhood, Rachel Sibande first dreamed of working in laboratories, before finally deciding to move into IT.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from University Malawi’s Chancelor College, a master’s degree in information science theory, coding and cryptography from Mzuzu University in 2007 and a PhD from Rhodes University in 2020. She began her career as a developer, before spending some time teaching at Kamuzu Academy and Mzuzu University in Malawi.

In 2012, an internship experience abroad propelled her career. She was selected as part of the “Young Africa League of Nations Program” to take part in a 6-week internship in the United States. During her stay, particularly in Chicago, she discovered the hub concept for the first time, during a visit to a hub and incubator for entrepreneurs and innovators. She, then, decided to create a similar center back in her country.

Determined to launch her hub, back in her country, she started volunteering on different technology projects in order to gain experience. In 2014, she worked on a project to develop a digital solution to monitor elections. She developed a platform where citizens could send their testimonies on incidents, via the web, mobile phones, social networks, SMS. Impressed by her work, the founders of the project suggested her to give her the project’s furniture and equipments to launch her hub. She started her hub with two other people.

mHub, Malawi’s first technology hub

Created in 2014, mHub is one of Malawi’s first technology and innovation hubs, with workspace in Malawi and Lusaka, Zambia. Its mission is to equip Malawian youth with professional skills by leveraging technology to find solutions to development challenges. It trains children, youth and women in digital skills and software development. The centre also has a coding club for children, a coding club for girls, a robotics club… It also provides a creative and stimulating workspace for young innovators and entrepreneurs and also develops technology solutions for various customers.

In 7 years, it has provided over US$1 million in financing to emerging entrepreneurs. It has also helped create over 950 jobs and impacted over 5,000 people in various value chains. It has trained over 40,000 young people in business and technology skills.

mHub’s ambition is to become the leading ICT Think Tank in Malawi and the region.

In addition to leading mHub, Rachel Sibande has been Senior Director, Country outreach (Africa) for the United Nations Foundation since 2020 with the mission of supporting African countries in their digital transformation.

Due to her commitment to the development of ICT in Malawi, she was ranked in 2016 by Forbes among the 30 most promising African entrepreneurs under 30 years old. She also received the « Women of Vision Award » from the Anita Borg Institute. She was also an Ambassador for the Next Einstein Forum in Malawi.