New climate change response rolls out
Malawi has rolled out a new climate change response project in seven districts to provide support for resilience to communities affected by climate change-related disasters.
The £8 million (K17.5 billion) Climate Just Communities, funded by the Scottish Government through DAI Global UK, will be implemented by different non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in the beneficiary districts.
World Relief country director Matilda Matitha, whose organisation is one of the local implementing partners, said they will be executing the project interventions in Salima District where it was launched on Friday.
She said the project involves local structures including the district council and chiefs for smooth implementation and sustainability.
Said Matitha: “The project interventions will provide support to rural households in hard-hit communities to become resilient by doing irrigation farming and environmental restoration activities.
“We believe by doing so we will make the vulnerable communities become resilient to climate related disasters.”
Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change Principal Secretary Richard Pelekamoyo, who presided over the launch, said communities affected by climate change disasters are the best to suggest solutions; hence, government is working with development partners to involve the local authorities in disaster-hit districts with an approach that ensures sustainability.
On her part, DAI Global UK senior director Nandi Hall said climate-related disasters affect poor people more than the rich, yet it is rich nations that contribute more to global warming.
She said this is why developed countries need to compensate the people affected by climate change-related disasters; hence, the new project that involves beneficiaries in its project design for local solutions.
Said Hall: “It’s really essential that we provide community led solutions to climate just interventions. That’s why this project is designed to be locally led so that they can design solutions to the impact they feel.”
President Lazarus Chakwera announced that government would need at least $300 million (about K525 billion ) to buy over 600 000 metric tonnes of maize to mitigate expected household food shortages as a result of poor harvest due to dry spells.
The project, which is also being implemented in Rwanda and Zambia, is locally being implemented in Salima, Chikwawa, Karonga, Neno, Phalombe, Zomba and Machinga districts.
