UN, Malawi sign climate change management project deal

19 April 2010, World Countries
URL: http://malawi.world-countries.net/archives/831

Lilongwe:  Malawi, UN Development Programme (UNDP) and other donor partners on Thursday signed the formulation phase project document for managing climate change in the country which will cost nearly US$4,152,399 (MWK 2 billion).

Development Planning and Cooperation Minister Abbie Marambika Shawa said his government had included climate change, natural resources and environment management as one of its key priority areas in its development agenda to show commitment in dealing with climate change issues in the country.  In responding to these challenges, he said, development partners and government had jointly agreed that it was crucial to document and coordinate all climate change initiatives.

One of the initiatives to enhance coordination between government and development partners was the formation of the Government/Development Partner Working Group, he said. “This was formed to provide a platform of dialogue for climate change issues and this has marked yet another important occasion in our long standing and successful partnership with our development cooperating partners by signing this important project,” he said.

He added that Malawi has suffered extensively from the effects of climate change because initially climate change was merely perceived as a hazard that increased disaster risks mainly in form of droughts and floods.  However, with the recent growing recognition across the globe that climate change has adverse effects on both growth and development processes of the country, he observed, it was imperative to mainstream climate change into the country’s development plans and programmes.

This recognition prompted government in collaboration with its development partners to develop the climate change project document which was aimed at developing a national framework for responding to challenges that climate change poses for sustainable economic development and national food security in Malawi, he said.

UNDP Resident Representative Richard Dictus said the formulation phase would put in place an appropriate framework for Malawi to deal with future climate change risks.  He said adverse effects of climate change were a development problem affecting all social and economic sectors, especially agriculture, which provides the bulk of economic income for the country’s population.

This was further exacerbated by the fact that the country’s agricultural sector was very dependent on rain-fed crops.

“I am again very excited by the prospects that by signing this document, we are putting ourselves on the path to future sustainable development by responding to climate change effects in a systematic, innovative and coordinated manner,” he said.

Historically, Malawi suffered severe droughts in 1915, 1948, 1992 and 1995, while worst floods occurred in 2000 and 2001.  In most recent cases severe droughts in Malawi have affected all parts of the country and caused havoc to both human and animal life and at the same time put pressure on public resources.–APA