CISONECC calls for increased budget allocation for disaster risk management

Neno, February 12, Mana: Civil Society Organizations Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) has urged policymakers to advocate for increased budgetary allocation toward disaster risk management (DRM).

CISONECC Board Vice Chairperson, Melton Luhanga made the appeal on Tuesday at Mwanza Hotel during an engagement meeting with Members of Parliament, councilors, civil society organizations and community representatives in Neno aimed to push for greater financial support for DRM activities.

“With more funding, there is hope for better management of disaster aftermaths and building resilience in communities,” said Luhanga.

He noted that Malawi has recently experienced various disasters including droughts, prolonged dry spells, floods and cyclones, emphasizing the need for increased budgetary support.

“Currently, the budget for disaster risk management is less than one percent of the national budget. We are advocating for an increase to at least five percent,” he said.

Luhanga also stressed the importance of equipping various government departments with adequate resources as they play a key role in disaster response.

Neno District Council Chairperson, Councilor Joseph Chiphaliwali of Ligowe Ward, reaffirmed the council’s commitment to lobbying for increased DRM funding.

However, he pointed out that the council is constrained by budget ceilings set by the central government.

“Neno is prone to disasters. As we speak, the district has experienced prolonged dry spells, forcing farmers to replant maize three times this growing season, which will have devastating effects on food security,” said Chiphaliwali.

He noted that councils cannot allocate funds beyond the set limits, calling on non-governmental organizations to include infrastructure rehabilitation in their programming rather than focusing solely on community capacity building.

“The district still has damaged infrastructure, such as Matope Bridge in Traditional Authority Symon and a school block at Mankhamba in Traditional Authority Dambe, which were destroyed by Cyclone Ana and remain unrepaired due to a lack of funding,” he added.

Chiphaliwali further appealed to the government to ensure timely disbursement of funds, as councils often go two to three months without receiving funding, severely affecting service delivery.

According to Neno District Disaster Risk Management Officer Brighton Mphinga, out of the council’s approved K20.8 billion budget, only K33,728,934—representing 0.163 percent—has been allocated to DRM.

CISONECC, in partnership with the Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) and with financial support from Christian Aid, is implementing the Climate Change Adaptation and Sustainable Energy in Malawi (CCASE) project in Neno.

The initiative aims to develop anticipatory, absorptive, adaptive, and transformative capacities while financing risk-reduction measures to prevent, minimize, and address loss and damage. Ultimately, the project seeks to strengthen national and local resilience to disasters and promote sustainable development.