Dowa is a district in the Central Region of Malawi. The district covers an area of 3,041 sq. km. and has a population of 556, 678.

Dowa has an agriculture based economy which growing mainly tobacco, groundnuts, beans and maize. Mponela is a major town in the district and lies on the M1 road to the northern district of Malawi. Mponela is primarily an agricultural and commercial town with almost all the banking institutions in Malawi represented there.

Dowa has nine second level subdivisions of 1. SC Chakhaza, 2. Mponela Urban, 3. SC Mponela, 4. TA Msakambewa, 5. SC Kayembe, 6. TA Dzoole, 7. Dowa Boma, 8. TA Chiwere, 9. SC Mkukula