For the latest in our series profiling key partner organisations in IRLI's network, working in countries around the world, we caught up with Marko Lehto, Team Leader in the EU Access to Justice Programme. He shares insights into his career and the programme’s objectives. With a background in supporting prisoners’ rights in Finland and extensive experience in human rights and rule of law initiatives, he now oversees technical assistance for Chilungamo.
Marko Lehto, Team Leader in the EU Access to Justice Programme.
The Chilungamo (Access to Justice) Programme in Malawi, funded by the European Union, has transitioned to a grant-based model, empowering local actors such as the judiciary, police and legal aid services to enhance access to justice.
IRLI is an essential strategic partner for Chilungamo, [...] our modalities complement each other since we can support our partners with grants and technical assistance for programme management, and IRLI has significant knowledge of legal issues that add value for our common partners."
Firstly, can you introduce yourself with your name, title, and where you are based?
My name is Marko Lehto. I have been a Team Leader for the Chilungamo (Access to Justice) Programme in Malawi since January 2024. The Chilungamo Programme is funded by the European Union.
What was your experience before the Chilungamo programme? How did you get into this kind of work?
I started my career in my own country, Finland, supporting the rights of prisoners and marginalised groups. It was a good experience, and I still maintain contact with many clients. In fact, ten years after this work a number of ex-convicts came to my wedding and I thought it was a fantastic show of respect.
I then started working in development cooperation in 1998 as a resident representative for Central America's Human Rights and Rule of Law programme to support the indigenous population's rights. Working with human rights defenders like Myrna Cunningham and Rigoberta Menchu was inspiring. It was amazing how many of these female leaders could negotiate with their governments so pragmatically, even though they had been jailed, tortured, raped and mistreated by the same actors. I learned so much from them.
Marko with the Access to Justice Programme team.
I like to work with grant modality since it is not as paternalist as others. It gives the freedom and responsibility to the local actors to achieve the commonly agreed result."
Can you describe your current role? What are your main responsibilities?
I’m in charge of the technical assistance (TA Facility) for Chilungamo Programmes. This includes implementing partners who design and implement their activities to ensure improved access to justice for the Malawian population. These actors are the Ministry of Justice, Judiciary, Police Service, Prison Management, Malawian Human Rights Commission, Office of the Ombudsman and Legal Aid.
Please talk us through some of the work the Chilungamo programme has done? (past and present)
This is already the second phase of the Chilungamo. The first one supported a sectoral approach for the rule of law sector, and we hope to continue from there. The most significant difference between these two phases is the shift from programme estimates to a grant modality. This change is a key evolution in the European Union approach, as it now supports our Implementing Partners with grants for the agreed targets and specific objectives. I like to work with grant modality since it is not as paternalist as others. It gives the freedom and responsibility to the local actors to achieve the commonly agreed results. It is too early to discuss the results since the first grants were disbursed to our partners at the beginning of 2025.
What are the main human rights issues you are currently working on?
The Chilungamo programmes have a specific objective to support women and vulnerable groups. I sincerely hope we can do something about these issues since I have already seen the importance of supporting these groups here in Malawi. At the same time, I’m also aware of the difficulties and challenges we face. I hope that after four years, when we close the programme, we can present tangible results with our partners. I suffer when I see injustice and mistreatment of vulnerable populations and a lack of attention to women who have suffered domestic violence and have no place to go.
How do you personally manage the pressures and responsibilities of working in a human rights context?
I was a musician in the 80s, and life was hectic on tours. Luckily, I understood I needed a break, so I closed myself in a Buddhist monastery to meditate for 14 weeks in India. After that, I had a different perspective on my problems and was no longer stressed. It does not mean that I don’t care. I just don’t want to worry about issues which are not in my hands. I also don’t take the problems for my work back home.
Can you talk us through the relationship between IRLI and the Chilungamo programme? How have you worked on the partnership?
IRLI is an essential strategic partner for Chilungamo because they work with the same partners, and we share the same goals and objectives. Our modalities complement each other since we can support our partners with grants and technical assistance for programme management, and IRLI has significant knowledge of legal issues that add value for our common partners.
What’s in store for the future at the Chilungamo programme? Are there any specific programmes or initiatives planned?
We are just starting, so let’s wait and see. I’m confident that our Partners have the capacity to implement and achieve the established targets and outcomes. Now, my work is just to facilitate the process. In the end, we are all in this together!