January Watchman Mvula is a dedicated community development leader and the Executive Director of the Sustainable Rural Community Development Organisation (SURCOD) in Malawi, a locally registered NGO founded in 2010. With over 13 years of experience, January has led transformative projects in the Nsanje and Chikwawa districts, focusing on sustainable agriculture, gender equity, youth empowerment, and climate resilience.

One of SURCOD’s most ambitious efforts under January’s leadership is the Chikwa Ecovillage—a 10-hectare regenerative community in Chikwawa designed to be self-sufficient, ecologically sound, and socially inclusive. Integrating permaculture, agroforestry, renewable energy, and solar-powered water systems, the ecovillage supports communities in Douglas, Gaga, and Pende villages in TA Kasisi. A major milestone was the recent installation of a solar-powered borehole, bringing clean and reliable water access to the site. Chikwa Ecovillage is also a hub for environmental restoration, soil conservation, and alternative livelihoods, helping local residents build regenerative and climate-adaptive futures.

Beyond Chikwa, SURCOD runs initiatives like the Chididi Women Savings and Capital Building Project, which supports women’s savings groups in establishing a fruit processing factory, and the Girls Empowerment Project, which enhances literacy, health knowledge, and entrepreneurship among adolescent girls.

Currently completing his MSc in Sustainable Development at Unicaf University Zambia, January has also received a scholarship to pursue an MA at Gaia University, specializing in the Integrative Ecosocial Design pathway. Through Gaia U’s blend of action-based learning, mentorship, and peer collaboration, January is further equipping himself to design regenerative solutions tailored to the pressing social and ecological challenges in rural Malawi.

Looking ahead, he envisions scaling SURCOD’s impact by incorporating digital tools and climate-smart practices into rural development, with a goal of replicating the Chikwa Ecovillage model across Malawi and beyond.