Project to empower communities in addressing climate change

Salima, April 21, Mana: Principal Secretary responsible for Administration in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Richard Pelekamoyo, on Saturday underscored the importance of designing community oriented interventions towards addressing climate change.

Pelekamoyo made the remarks when he presided over the launch of a project called ‘Climate Just Communities (CJC) Malawi’, in the area of Senior Chief Ndindi in Salima district.

He said projects must emphasize the principles of climate justice, aiming to empower local communities.

"We are pleased that local communities will actively participate in climate adaptation and mitigation efforts," he said.

He said building resilient communities that can withstand the impacts of climate change and thrive in the face of disasters should be a common goal.

He said the CJC has been specially tailored to be implemented in seven districts that have been heavily impacted by climate change effects, including recurring droughts, devastating floods and cyclones.

"The climate related disasters have had severe consequences on the communities affected, including loss of lives, destruction of property and disruption of livelihoods," he said.

Pelekamoyo reaffirmed government's commitment to addressing these challenges and has implemented various initiatives to mitigate and adapt the impacts of climate, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with other institutions and projects, such as CJC.

"Launching this project marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to address the pressing challenges of climate change in our communities, it aligns perfectly with the government's vision and policies aimed at building climate resilience and promoting sustainable development across," he said.

The CJC project will be implemented through a consortium of partners with Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) as the lead partner whereas Scottish Government will provide financial support, with a theme dubbed ‘communities standing up for climate justice’.

In her remarks, DAI global UK Senior Director for Sustainable Growth, Nand Hall, said the project is focusing on vulnerable communities as they are the ones mostly affected by climate change, so that they generate solutions to problems they face.

She said the project will create long term, sustainable change within the communities in line with the pillars of climate justice.

"We will focus on disaster risk management, livelihoods security, loss and damage, resilient schools and WASH and inclusion especially gender mainstreaming and empowering persons with personalities," she said.

Senior Chief Ndindi, in whose area the launch took place and will benefit from the project, bemoaned that his area has been largely affected by effects of climate change and with the coming of the project he is hopeful that through the interventions, people's lives will be transformed.

The project will run for two years to a tune of about K17 billion, and about 460,075 people across the seven targeted districts of Salima, Mzimba, Neno, Karonga, Chikwawa, Machinga and Zomba have been targeted to benefit.