The Iniative for Climate Action and Development (ICAD) has emphasised the need and importance of mainstreaming human mobility into the national adaptation plan (NAP) process towards climate change mitigation.
ICAD executive director Gift Maloya, said this on Thursday in Lilongwe during the launch and dissemination workshop on mainstreaming human mobility into Malawi’s National Adaptation Plan Process.
“ICAD 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.
“For instance, the country was severely affected by Cyclone Idai in March- April 2019, followed by Tropical Storm Ana and Cyclone Gombe in 2022 and recently Cyclone Freddy in March 2023.
“In February 2024, Nkhotakota and Karonga districts have severely been hit by flash floods affecting overv 1000 households rendering into injuries, loss of property and damage of houses and key infrastructure. This is a serious problem that we need to look into without hesitation.” He said.
Maloya said during the workshop, participants raised important recommendations which would help towards climate mitigation and adaptation.
“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.” He lamented.
Goliati Maloya, environmental inspector at the Environmental Affairs Department said ” Malawi has made tremendous progress in developing the NAP and that only a few steps are remaining to conclude the Malawi NAP.
“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.
