20100419
africagoodnews

Malawi and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has signed a formulation phase project document for managing climate change in the country to be implemented to a tune of $4.2 million.

The project will be co-financed by Norway, Spain and the Department for International Development (DFID).

The formulation phase project is aimed at enhancing coordination between government and its developing partners in creating a national framework for responding to the challenges climate change poses to Malawi's economic development and food security.

Speaking during a signing ceremony in Lilongwe, Malawi's Minister of Development Planning and Cooperation Abbie Shawa said government is aware of challenges that climate change poses to Malawi, hence the launching of this project.

He cited persistent droughts, flooding and erratic rain patterns as some of the disastrous effects of climate change in the country.

"This project aims at developing a national framework for managing climate change in this country. The government appreciated that sustainable natural resources and environment management provides an important foundation for supporting economic growth and development hence the inclusion of climate change as one of the key priority areas of the development agenda," said Shawa

UNDP resident representative to Malawi Richard Dictus said the formulation phase of the project will put in place an appropriate framework for Malawi to deal with the future climate change risks.

"The national economic development need to be climate change proofed for Malawi to continue to grow and prosper. There is need to climate change proof land utilization, hybrid seed that is drought resistant and upscale to levels that can be managed," he said

He said after the Copenhagen Summit in November last year, there have been considerable amounts of funding promised and Malawi would benefit if a robust framework is in place.