Former President of the Republic of Malawi Dr. Joyce Banda has been honored for her remarkable contribution in making COP 29 a success. Dr. Banda was appointed together with other 25 world leaders to serve as Advisor to the President of Azerbaijan on COP29.
According to a letter from Office of President and Cabinet submitting the certificate of appreciation to the former President through the ministry of Foreign Affairs, President IIham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Dr. Banda has been recognized for her active participation and contribution in the International Advisory Committee.
“I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency a certificate of appreciation awarded by His Excellency Iiham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in recognition of Your Excellency’s active participation at the 29th Conference of the parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP) in Baku, Azerbaijan. The certificate of appreciation was sent through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” reads the letter in part.
The 2024 COP29 focused on key global challenges such as climate resilience, sustainable development, and innovation in green technologies. The International Advisory Committee was at the center of shaping the agenda and its contribution to policy recommendations and stakeholder engagement.
The former Malawi leader made a commitment to ensure that Africa is committed to addressing the plight of frontline communities affected by climate change in Malawi and Africa at large.
Dr. Banda has been to the frontline and has shared evidence and sad reality of devastation and turmoil which women and children are going through in Malawi as a result of 7 cyclones which have wreaked havoc in the country.
It has been confirmed beyond any doubts that among other adverse impacts, climate change threatens global public health-this is more real in Africa and other developing states- exacerbating the spread of airborne, waterborne, and vector-borne diseases and worsening malnutrition.
Further, women and men are struggling with mental health issues emanating from loss of family members, property and livelihoods; malnutrition among young children is a glaring reality while maladies related to poor sanitation and lack of clean water are the order of the day.
Additionally, the Malaria cases in Malawi went up dramatically as a result of floods. This alarming scenario and which is replicated in many countries in Africa underscores the critical need for integrated climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies that prioritize public health, particularly for marginalized groups, including women, girls, indigenous communities, and those with limited incomes.
Dr. Banda’s leadership and other the leadership of Nizzami Ganjavi Baku at Cop 29 has also helped Malawi to join a bandwagon of leaders around the world who are now on a crusade advocating for debt relief and cancellation as well as climate change adaptation and resilience.
Meanwhile, the former Malawi leader is in Cape Town, Republic of South Africa where she is attending the African Leaders Initiative on Debt Relief conference.
The African Leaders Initiative on Debt Relief, chaired by President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has brought together several African former Presidents and Heads of Governments to advocate for both bilateral and multilateral debt relief for African countries.
Before the summit in South Africa, the former president travelled to Freetown, Sierra Leon to attend a conference organized by the Africa-US Forum on STEM, AI and MBA. While there, Dr. Banda attended presentation ceremony of the prestigious Presidential Game Changer Award to President Julius Maada Bio.
The former Malawi President returns home on Friday, February 28 through Chileka International Airport and will go straight to preside over a number of engagements in the southern region over the weekend.
The Author Arnold Mnelemba is the Executive Assistant to the Former President
