In 2020, the Government of Malawi, through the Environmental Affairs Department, Ministry of Natural Resources, in partnership with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), obtained a grant from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for a project to build capacity to advance the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process in Malawi. UN Environment is the Delivery Partner for the project, with the role of supporting and overseeing the project implementation. The project is entitled “Advancing the NAP process: climate resilience for sustainable development in Malawi” (NAP Readiness Project). The project supports multi-sectoral, medium- to long-term adaptation planning and budgeting in Malawi and promotes the integration of climate change adaptation aspects into development planning processes and policies. Systems for developing and sharing climate risk and vulnerability information will be reinforced, and sustainable financing mechanisms for climate change adaptation initiatives are set to be developed. The project is expected to end in September 2026.
The project adopted the objective of the National Climate Change Management Policy (2016) as its overall objective, which is to reduce vulnerability of people in Malawi and to promote community and ecosystem resilience to the impacts of climate change and gender-equitable adaptive capacity for planning and implementing adaptation interventions.
Outcome of NAP Project
The four NAP project outcomes are as follows:
- Capacity developed for the coordination and execution of future NAP processes
- NAP adaptation priorities are operationalised through line ministry spending plans
- Private sector finance mobilised for investment in climate risk management
- Learning about the NAP process disseminated
These build on the adaptation planning baseline in two main ways: developing the evidence base on medium to longer term adaptation needs and in developing stronger linkages on adaptation planning between Districts and central government.
Benefits of NAP Project
There will be a range of benefits from the NAP process, the main ones being as follows:
- Nationally agreed adaptation targets which are mainstreamed into sectoral strategies and policies which will provide for building of climate change resilience through regular development budgets
- Strengthened District to Central government planning linkages on setting adaptation targets and monitoring progress on those targets
- National climate change scenarios, planning and legal tools and training courses established to promote iterative adaptation planning in the future
- Enhanced access to adaptation finance that delivers the country’s adaptation targets effectively
- Private sector engagement in adaptation that will both provide support for the agenda and investment to meet some of its challenges
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