The workshop was organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in collaboration with the Government of Malawi, and was held on 14 September 2026 at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC), Umodzi Park, Lilongwe. The workshop was followed by a High-Level Policy Validation Meeting on 15 September 2026. The meetings were convened to review and validate the Draft National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS) 2026–2031 and to develop consolidated recommendations to inform its finalization. The High-Level Policy Validation Meeting further sought to achieve the following objectives:

• Present the key findings of the situational analysis and the strategic rationale underpinning the Draft NIPPS 2026–2031.
• Validate the alignment of the Draft NIPPS 2026–2031 with Malawi Vision 2063.
• Assess its consistency with relevant national development policies and frameworks, including those relating to science, technology, innovation, and other sectoral priorities.
• Generate consolidated recommendations to strengthen and support the finalization of the NIPPS 2026–2031.