By Salome Gangire

Neno, November 18, Mana: Participants in the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) in Neno District have described the initiative as transformative, bringing positive change both to the environment and their financial status.

The project funded by Malawi Government through the World Bank and by the Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) programme aims at mitigating climate change effects while boosting local livelihoods, has had tangible impact in communities heavily reliant on subsistence farming.

A participant from Mtungamowa Catchment in the area of Traditional Authority Mlauli, Wyson Ndapita expressed gratitude for the dual benefits of the programme.

Mtungamowa said the programme has introduced an alternative, offering participants a reliable income source while simultaneously promoting environmental stewardship.

“This project has brought hope to many of us. In the past, we only depended on our small farms which barely produced enough food for our families,” he said.

Ndapita said with the income realized from participating in the programme, they afford other basic necessities they couldn’t before.

He said the work has helped them foster a sense of responsibility toward the environment.

“We are beginning to see that our survival is connected to how well we care for nature. Our children are also learning from this and I hope this project will continue so we can build a better future,” he said.

Another participant from Chapita Village in the area of Traditional Authority Mlauli, Lonely Boti resonated similar sentiments, noting how the initiative has reduced poverty while restoring degraded landscapes.

“Through this project, we are not just earning money; we are contributing to conserving the environment which is our lifeline. The reforestation and soil conservation activities have revived barren lands around here and we hope to see even better results in the coming years,” she said.

Boti said through the money they receive after working under the project, women are now economically empowered as they have ventured into village savings and loans groups, while others have started small businesses which help them support their families.

CS-EPWP Project Facilitator for Neno, Chrissy Kamanga said the programme has produced good economic results apart from communities’ adoption of sustainable catchment management as well as improving livelihood of the participants.

Kamanga said participants work for 30 paid days and 10 days for community contribution; thereby, receiving K48, 000 after a cycle.

“The programme is empowering participants economically through wages they receive to buy food and other basic necessities,” said Kamanga.

The programme involves participants in a range of activities including promoting natural regeneration, tree planting, constructing soil and water conservation structures like swales and stone bunds in attempt to curb soil erosion, enhance water retention and promote biodiversity, all crucial for communities facing erratic weather patterns and soil depletion.

The CS-EPWP is a component under the Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project (SSRLP), a Malawi Government project funded by the Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) and the World Bank and is being facilitated by the National Local Government Finance Committee in all the 28 district councils.