Protecting lives and livelihoods in Malawi from climate-related disasters by providing early warning weather and climate information systems and improving the resilience of vulnerable communities.

Malawi faces more intense and frequent climate-related disasters including floods, droughts, and extreme weather events that threaten loss of life, assets, and food security. Vulnerability to climate change impacts is high, with shifts in the rainfall season, longer dry seasons, and reductions in the growing season already occurring. 85% of the population lives in rural areas, with over half in poverty and most engaged in smallholder agriculture.

The project will expand the meteorological network, instal automatic weather stations, hydrological monitoring stations, and lake-based weather buoys, as well as increase the capacity to identify risks and forecast impacts. Resulting information will be better disseminated through mobile, ICT, and radio channels targeting vulnerable farming communities, as well as fishing communities around Lake Malawi. Flood modelling for river systems will be improved, increasing warning times from 6 hours and under to 24- 48 hours. The private sector, including telecoms and micro and small enterprises will be engaged.

People need to know what to do with this enhanced weather information, and the project will work with affected communities to undertake awareness raising and risk reduction in flood disaster prone areas. The capacity of local communities, district councils, and national agencies to respond to emergencies will be strengthened through training and improved emergency services.

The project has an estimated lifespan of 6 years.