Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Michael Usi, commended the Malawi Red Cross Society Locally Led Adaptation and Transforming Humanitarian Response to Climate Change Programme, emphasizing its potential to address the adverse effects of climate change in Malawi. Usi expressed these sentiments during the launch of the program held at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe.
He pointed out that Malawi has already been suffering from climate change-related consequences, citing the example of Cyclone Freddy, which resulted in the loss of over 1,000 lives. The country is still in the process of recovering from the aftermath of this disaster.
Michael Rossman, the Deputy Mission Director for USAID in Malawi, echoed the significance of the project, highlighting its aim to assist the people of Nsanje, Phalombe, and Mulanje in adapting to the challenges posed by climate change, in alignment with the Malawi Government’s National Adaptation Plan.
“This project will be implemented by International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and is designed to help to bolster the ability of some vulnerable communities in Malawi to reduce their climate change related risks.
“To achieve this, our project will help strengthen the capacity of the Malawi Red Cross Society, to help vulnerable communities mitigate climate risks and adapt to a changing climate risks and boost access to help finance their climate plans,” said Rossman.
He further said the project will invest in Malawian-led solutions identified by the communities in which they will be implemented.
Director of Programmes and Development at MRCS, Prisca Chisala, said the 36-month Locally Led Adaptation and Transforming Humanitarian to Climate Change Project will scale up climate change adaptation by putting people at the centre of understanding of the different climate risks and how to manage them.
