ICAD Urges Mainstreaming Human Mobility into Malawi's Climate Adaptation Plan
The briefing note was prepared by ICAD, with support from the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the government of Ireland.
LILONGWE, Malawi - The Iniative for Climate Action and Development (ICAD) has stressed the importance of integrating human mobility into Malawi's national adaptation plan process as a means of mitigating climate change, writes Meclina Chirwa.
ICAD's Executive Director, Gift Maloya, made the statement during the launch and dissemination workshop on mainstreaming human mobility into Malawi's National Adaptation Plan Process in Lilongwe on Thursday.
Maloya highlighted the urgency of the briefing note, stating, "ICAD's briefing note comes at the right time when Malawi continues to experience extreme climate events and shocks that have significantly affected human settlements and livelihoods in the country."
He cited recent examples such as Cyclone Idai in March-April 2019, Tropical Storm Ana and Cyclone Gombe in 2022, Cyclone Freddy in March 2023, and the flash floods in Nkhotakota and Karonga districts in February 2024, which have caused injuries, property damage, and the displacement of over 1,000 households.
During the workshop, participants put forward important recommendations to enhance climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.
Maloya explained, "Participants gained insights into viable entry points and opportunities for embedding human mobility considerations into Malawi's NAP process at different stages. We identified opportunities and key entry points for mainstreaming human mobility into Malawi's NAP process, such as strengthening skills and capacities for experts and high-level government officials, institutional and policy arrangements, and data and knowledge communication."
Goliati Maloya, an environmental inspector at the Environmental Affairs Department, expressed satisfaction with Malawi's progress in developing the National Adaptation Plan (NAP).
He emphasized the importance of collaboration between state and non-state actors, stating, "My office is happy to work with non-state actors such as ICAD in advancing the NAP process through mainstreaming of emerging issues like human mobility and displacement in the context of climate change."
The briefing note was prepared by ICAD, with support from the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the government of Ireland.