VSO engages Malawians in climate change fight
Development stakeholders in Nsanje District have welcomed the launch of a new initiative by Volunteer Services Overseas (VSO) to stop effects of climate change along the banks of Nyamadzere River in Traditional Authority (T/A) Malemia’s area.
Speaking on Tuesday after a capacity building workshop organised by VSO to launch a project called Water Futures: Towards Equitable Resource Strategies (Waters), Foundation for Active Civic Education (Face) executive director Gizex Gizai said the intervention has come at the right time to complement efforts being made by other organisations in the district.
A representative from the district’s agriculture office, Esther Chilongo, said she is optimistic about positive response from the villagers because this year’s floods have left them with not much choice but to do something about environmental degradation.
VSO expert on climate change in the district, Marije Langstraat from the Netherlands, said the project, which is the first of its kind in Malawi, will be implemented using an ecosystem service for water resources management approach in recognition of the role water plays in ecosystems.
She said the project will have various focus areas at community, district and civil society levels.
According to Langstraat, the Waters Project, also being implemented in Chikhwawa, Salima and Karonga, which are the other three climate change most vulnerable districts in Malawi, is being carried out with a combined grant of about 500 000 pound sterling from the Scottish government through The Climate Justice Fund.
