Building a National Climate Change Learning Strategy
Together with the government of Malawi and key stakeholders, UN CC:Learn facilitated the development the country’s first national climate learning strategy, which was launched in 2013.
Malawi will become a knowledge-driven climate change resilient population by 2030, pursuing a low carbon emission development path – Strategy vision
A background report, which laid out the groundwork for the development of the reviewed strategy, can be found below:
The updated strategy sets out the following objectives:
- Developing a critical mass of human resources with the requisite understanding, knowledge and skills to respond to the impacts of climate change,
- Strengthening the national institutions and systems that will spearhead climate change training initiatives, and
- Developing a sustainable financing mechanism for climate change learning programmes.
Priority actions include climate change training for frontline forestry personnel and health surveillance assistants, and the promotion of climate change education across society.
Responsibility for implementing the strategy rests with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Management through its National Climate Change Programme Office, in collaboration with line ministries, national training and learning institutions and other stakeholders.
The strategy is available in English and can be downloaded below:
Turning the Strategy into Actions
Strengthening the National Youth Network on Climate Change
The National Youth Network on Climate Change (NYNCC), founded in 2011, has been working with the Government of Malawi to promote youth participation in the climate change management agenda of the country.
Establishing Malawi Higher Education Institutions Network on Climate Change Learning
The Malawi Higher Education Institutions Network on Climate Change Learning (MHEINCCL) has been established building on the need for enhanced coordination and collaboration among the higher learning institutions that are providing lessons on climate change management.
The main objective of the MHEINCCL is to champion climate change learning in and among higher education institutions (HEIs) in Malawi and beyond.
Climate Change Education
The Malawi Institute of Education (MIE) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Management produced a poster centered on the message “Climate Change is Real: Act Now!” 15,000 copies were distributed to the more than 5,000 schools in the country, reaching out to 3,000,000 children.
A Climate Change Sourcebook for Primary School Teachers was launched in 2014. In 2015, 400 primary education advisors throughout the country and over 12,500 primary school teachers were familiarized on the primary school sourcebook on climate change.
A poster and a sourcebook were secondary schools were also developed and launched during the first National Climate Change Week held in October 2015.
Multiple Youth Climate Dialogue were also held in Malawi.
Training for Forestry Assistants
The Government of Malawi trained over 250 forestry assistants across the country on climate change, in an effort to enhance knowledge and skills in climate change management among key personnel in sectors that are threatened by climate change. The training was conducted in 2015 by different ministries, with support from UN CC:Learn.
Training for Health Professionals
In December 2013, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development organized training workshops for 200 health surveillance assistants (HSA) in all three regions of Malawi. The overall objective was to build the capacity of the HAS, frontline staff working directly the communities.
Our National Partners
Our work in Malawi is implemented through the country’s National Climate Change Programme, including the National Climate Change Steering Committee, the National Climate Change Technical Committee and the Government/Development Partners Working Group.
The Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Environment is coordinating the UN CC:Learn Project in Malawi in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development.
Contacts
Ms. Shamiso Najira
Deputy Director
Environmental Affairs Department
Environmental Impact Assessment and Pollution Control Division
Global Environment Facility (GEF) Operational Focal Point
Lingadzi House, Private Bag 394, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
Email: shamiso_b@yahoo.com
UN Country Team Liaison
Ms. Heather Maseko-Msyale
Programme Analyst, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction
UN Development Programme (UNDP) Malawi
P.O Box 30135, Lilongwe, Malawi
Email: heather.maseko@undp.org
Ms. Jane Swira
Manager, National Climate Change Programme
Malawi
Email: jane.swira@undp.org
Project News and Activities
Radio Listening Habits to Boost Climate Action in Southern Africa 11 June 2021 I Malawi
Malawi Has Updated its National Climate Change Learning Strategy, Confirming the Country’s Role as Leader in Climate Change Education 9 February 2021 I Malawi
Malawi Set to Review its Climate Change Learning Strategy
12-13 March 2020 | Lilongwe, Malawi
UN CC:Learn Ambassador Ms. Shamiso Najira Inspires Zambia
16-17 July 2019 | Lusaka, Zambia
Ms. Shamiso Najira, UN CC:Learn Ambassador for Climate Change Learning of Malawi, Facilitates Youth Exchange on Climate Change
15 March 2016 | Geneva, Switzerland
Youth Climate Dialogues between Switzerland and Malawi
05 November 2015 | St. Gallen, Switzerland
Malawi Launches Secondary School Sourcebook on Climate Change
20 October 2015 | Lilongwe, Malawi