Explore the key adaptation investments underway in Malawi, from ecosystem restoration and climate-smart agriculture to resilient infrastructure, sustainable water management, and locally led adaptation. These initiatives, supported by the Government of Malawi and its development partners, are translating climate priorities into practical action, empowering vulnerable communities, and advancing the implementation of Malawi’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) for a more resilient and sustainable future.
TRANSFORM
The project objective is to reduce the vulnerability of communities surrounding Lake Chilwa to the adverse effects of climate change by strengthening the resilience of livelihoods through Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and financing of climate-resilient enterprises. The project focuses on landscape restoration, climate smart agriculture, climate resilient value chains and Integrated watershed Management.
The project is being implemented in the three districts of Zomba, Machinga and Phalombe in the lake chilwa basin in Southern Malawi. The project is being funded through the global Environment Facility Grant of 4,416,210 US dollars for 5 years from 2023 to 2027. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
LIFE-AR
The LDC Initiative for Effective Adaptation and Resilience (LIFE-AR) project aims to strengthen institutions and systems through integration of climate risk information into district plans. It aims to improve inclusion of participation of women, youth and marginalized groups. The project which is costed at MWK 454 million per district, is being implemented in three districts: Rumphi, Salima and Mangochi and will be implemented up to 2028.
CLAP for Resilience
Championing Local Adaptation for Productive Ecosystems and Enhanced Resilience (clap for resilience) in the Bua River Basin project
The objective of the CLAP for Resilience project is to increase adaptive capacities and reduce the vulnerabilities of communities to climate change impacts through integrated catchment-based approaches that enable local communities to partner with the private sector to rejuvenate agriculture and enhance investments in climate-resilient livelihoods. The project is being implemented from 2026 to 2031 in the three districts of Mchinji, Kasungu, and Nkhotakota of the Bua River Basin. The project is being implemented with funding from the Global Environment Facility to the tune of 8.9 Million US dollars in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The project focuses on biophysical restoration, Ecotourism, climate smart agriculture, Private sector engagement in sustainable enterprises and livelihoods support in the Bua river Basin
PARS
The Promoting Climate Adaptation and Resilience through Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Green Jobs in Malawi Project is a project under the United Nations industrial organisations’ (UNIDO) Programme for Innovation in Climate Adaptation and Resilience Building Solutions (PARS). It aims to Reduce climate vulnerability and enhance resilience to climate change through promoting innovation, transfer and large-scale deployment of adaptation-oriented technologies and services by Micro, Small, and Medium-Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) and create jobs in the Water, Energy and Food and Agricultural (WEFA) sectors. The project is being financed by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) with a grant total of US 4,437,156 for a period of 60 Months (5 years).
Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL)
The LoCAL programme aims to strengthen the resilience of local communities to climate change by integrating climate adaptation into local government planning, budgeting and development investments. It supports district councils to identify climate risks, prioritise adaptation measures and access financing for climate-resilient development.
The programme uses Performance-Based Climate Resilience Grants (PBCRGs) to finance locally identified adaptation investments, alongside technical assistance and capacity building for local authorities. Priority interventions include climate-resilient infrastructure, sustainable agriculture, water management and ecosystem protection.
In Malawi, LoCAL is being implemented in collaboration with the Government of Malawi through relevant national institutions and district councils. The programme supports climate-responsive development planning and investment in pilot districts, including Mwanza, Mulanje and Nkhotakota.
RCRP
The Regional Climate Resilience Program (RCRP-2) is a US$240 million World Bank-funded grant to the government of Malawi to better prepare for and manage the increasing frequency, intensity, and impact of climate shocks on people and infrastructure. The program is covering all 28 districts. Timeframe for the program is 2024 to 2029.
Ecosystems-based Adaptation for Resilient Watersheds and Communities in Malawi (EbAM)
The EbAM project aims to strengthen the resilience of rural communities to climate change through ecosystem-based adaptation and integrated watershed management. It addresses the impacts of climate change, including erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, droughts, floods, soil erosion and watershed degradation, which threaten agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.
The project promotes the integration of ecosystem-based adaptation practices into Farmer Field Schools, supporting smallholder farmers to adopt sustainable land management and climate-resilient agricultural practices. It also generates evidence on the effectiveness of these approaches to inform national climate adaptation policies and strategies.
The project is being implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Government of Malawi through the Ministry of Agriculture's Department of Land Resources Conservation. It targets 11 climate-vulnerable districts across Malawi and is supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), with total project financing of approximately US$53.2 million, including co-financing. The project was approved in July 2024 and is expected to run until 2030.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Framework for Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Forests and Agriculture (MELBA Malawi)
The MELBA project aims to strengthen Malawi's capacity to monitor, evaluate and learn from climate change adaptation interventions, particularly in the agriculture, forestry and land-use sectors. It seeks to improve the availability and use of reliable evidence to assess adaptation progress, measure results and inform climate-resilient development planning.
The project focuses on strengthening national adaptation monitoring systems through field-based data collection and remote sensing, building institutional capacity, and integrating evidence into policies and planning processes. It will also support the development of a monitoring, evaluation and learning framework aligned with Malawi's National Adaptation Plan (NAP), helping government institutions track adaptation outcomes and improve decision-making
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