Shaping Malawi’s Environmental Future

This August GRID-Arendal joined the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and Malawi Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) in Lilongwe for the Authors’ Inception Meeting of the Malawi National State of the Environment and Outlook Report (NSEOR). Requested by the government of Malawi to UNEP, this upcoming assessment will build on the 2010 National State of the Environment and Outlook Report. GRID-Arendal is coordinating the development of this crucial report.

Inception meeting for authors

From 12-14 August 2024, about 44 participants, consisting of authors, experts, and GRID-Arendal’s Clever Mafuta and Elena van Doorn, attended the Inception meeting in Malawi’s capital city, Lilongwe. The meeting showcased significant progress in the development of the new report that will guide environmental policy in Malawi for years to come.

During the three-day meeting, the authors worked hard on expanding the annotated outline of the report, identifying data requirements, advancing the drafting of the report, and developing a work plan to prepare for the report’s key milestones.

Author’s Inception meeting participants. Clever Mafuta working with some of the authors in drafting their chapters / Credit: Elena van Doorn

Cyclone Freddy

The need for improved environmental policy and action in Malawi became undeniably clear after a tropical cyclone, Cyclone Freddy, hit southern Africa in 2023, resulting in widespread flooding, displacement and loss of life in Malawi. Malawi is also facing significant environmental challenges such as deforestation due to the soaring demand for energy (charcoal), soil erosion and wetland degradation, worsening the impacts of extreme weather events like cyclones. The cyclone highlighted the profound social and humanitarian effects of environmental disasters.

The Malawi Environment Outlook will support the efforts to build environmental sustainability and disaster resilience to future climate risks in Malawi.

Co-chair Dr Magombo presents the context of Malawi and the report's methodology. Credit: Elena van Doorn.

GEO structure

The assessment follows the Global Environment Outlook (GEO) process led by the UN Environment Programme. The GEO plays a significant role in shaping national reports such as the Malawi NSEOR. GRID-Arendal is currently involved in the 7th GEO assessment (GEO-7), co-leading chapter 8 on Regional Interlinkages in Africa.

Policy Recommendations and Capacity Building

GEO reports are known for their policy-oriented recommendations, which the NSEOR also incorporates. The process emphasises translating environmental data into actionable policy advice, which is one of the core objectives of the NSEOR. Scenario analysis is vital, as future projections are developed based on different policy decisions and interventions. The National Environment Outlook, like the GEO, uses these projections to help policymakers understand the long-term implications of their environmental strategies.

An essential component of the GEO and Malawi Environment Outlook is capacity building and knowledge sharing. Malawi’s participation in the process will help to build the capacity necessary to compile comprehensive reports in the future. The NSEOR process, therefore, includes data training and the training of fellows on drafting these kinds of national assessments.

Clever Mafuta presents during the first face-to-face meeting of the Scientific Advisory Group/credit: Elena van Doorn.

Communication and Outreach

Two journalists joined the Inception meeting to develop a Communication and Outreach Plan for the NSEOR report. The journalists will be involved throughout the drafting of the report to amplify its reach, influence, and impact. They will ensure that the findings lead to tangible environmental improvements in Malawi, increase public awareness, build stakeholder engagement, and enhance policy impact.

Photo description: GRID-Arendal’s Elena (left), UNEP’s Caroline Kaimuru and journalists Aston Gondwe and Moses Phiri / Credit: UNEP

Briefing of Government and Advisory bodies

In addition to the Inception meeting, GRID-Arendal, MEPA, UNEP, and the Co-chairs of the Malawi NSEOR met for a briefing with the Principal Secretaries of the different national Ministries and Departments. This briefing aimed to familiarise the Principal Secretaries with the NSEOR process and structure, to discuss the scope and meaning of the report for Malawi, as well as to discuss policy questions that the NSEOR could answer, emphasising the importance of the involvement of government in the development of the national report.

On the last day of the Inception Meeting, the NSEOR advisory bodies met for their first face-to-face meeting. The NSEOR has two advisory bodies: the Governmental and Multi-stakeholder Advisory Group (GMAG) and the Scientific Advisory Group (SAG). The advisory bodies ensure the report’s scientific credibility and interlinkages with Malawi’s political and policy context.

First Order Draft

Authors, supported by the NSEOR Secretariat, are working hard to progress the report towards the next significant milestone: the development of the First Order Draft by the end of November. The final report will be completed by the end of 2025 when the NSEOR will provide Malawi with a comprehensive, evidence-based assessment to help shape its environmentally sustainable future.

Work structure of the Malawi NSEOR (credit: GRID-Arendal)