Government
Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining is the lead ministry mandated to coordinate natural resources and environment (including climate change), energy and mining issues. The Ministry hosts the Environmental Affairs Department, Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, Department of Forestry, Department of Energy Affairs, Mining Department, and Department of Parks and Wildlife.
Environmental Affairs Department (EAD) is the climate change focal point in the country. Therefore, EAD provides policy direction on issues related to climate change mitigation, adaptation, public awareness and technology transfer. The EAD is supported by a National Technical Committee on Climate Change, a multi- stakeholder technical team, to provide critical inputs to current and future climate change programmes and projects. At the policy level, it is supported by the National Steering Committee on Climate Change (NSCCC)19. The EAD in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS), is also responsible for coordinating international climate change related issues.
Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services: Previously known as Department of Meteorological Services, it is mandated to provide reliable, responsive and high-quality weather and climate services to meet national, regional and international obligations through timely dissemination of accurate and up to-date data and information for socio-economic development of Malawi. The DCCMS has manned and automated weather stations throughout the country and also manages district climate change information offices to disseminate climate change information to aid district development planning. It is the only official authoritative voice on weather and climate for the Malawi Government, and manages all weather and climate data for Malawi as the official custodian of such information.
Department of Forestry (DoF) is mandated to plan, provide technical extension guidelines, and facilitate forestry development on customary land and forest reserves, and participation of all stakeholders in the sustainable management of our natural resources in Malawi. Although its activities tend to mainly support climate change mitigation by conserving or enhancing carbon sinks, the Department has also looked at adaptation co - benefits e.g. REDD+. The Forestry Research Institute of Malawi (FRIM), which is within DoF, provides technical support in forest management to environment and agriculture departments.
Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) is under the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), is responsible for coordinating and directing disaster risk management programmes in the country in order to improve and safeguard the quality of life of Malawians, especially those vulnerable to and affected by disasters. As part of disaster management, DoDMA is monitors, assesses, updates and disseminates disaster related information to various stakeholders.
Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and Development (MoFEPD) is mandated to manage fiscal flows and economic development plans such as the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS). The Department of Economic Planning and Development, in the recent past, was also actively involved management of climate change programmes. Since MGDS is a medium-term development plan for the country, DEPD will be instrumental in ensuring the SPCR processes are captured in the MGDS III which is yet to be approved.
Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development (MoAIWD) is one of the largest ministries hosting nine departments, namely: Animal Health and Livestock; Agriculture Extension Services; Agriculture Research Services; Fisheries; Crop Development; Land Resources Conservation; Irrigation Services; Water Resources and Water Supply. The MoAIWD mandated to implement the Agriculture Sector Wide Approach (ASWAp) and is instrumental in generating and disseminating agriculture and water related adaptation knowledge and technology products to smallholder farming communities, who ultimately experience the greatest impacts of climate change. The Ministry has worked with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to develop Agriculture National Adaptation Plan.
Ministry of Health The Ministry seeks to achieve health for all Malawians by delivering health services and disseminating health information to the general public. The Ministry mission is to raise the level of health status of all Malawians by reducing the incidence of illness and occurrence of death in the population. This will be done through the development of a sound delivery system capable of promoting health, preventing, reducing and curing disease, protecting life and fostering general well-being and increased productivity. The Ministry has been working with the World Health Organisation (WHO to undertake climate change vulnerability assessment of the health sector.
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) is responsible for the development and delivery of basic and higher education. The Ministry, through Malawi Institute of education (MIE), participated in the development of Malawi's Climate Change Learning Strategy and is currently mainstreaming climate change in primary and secondary school curricular. This has a potential of bringing climate change adaptation awareness to household level.
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MoLGRD) is mandated to promote and accelerate local governance and participatory democracy and social-economic development of local governance. MoLGRD is responsible for the District led development efforts. The districts, through the Decentralisation Policy, are a medium for capturing developmental needs from the grassroots to inform central government planning processes.
