The Coordination Union for Rehabilitation of the Environment (CURE), which serves as the technical network lead for the environment and natural resources sector under the Council for Non-Governmental Organisations in Malawi (CONGOMA), has concluded a two-year climate resilience project around the Chiradzulu Forest Reserve.
Carried out in collaboration with the Department of Forestry, the initiative titled: ‘Building Resilience of Local Communities Against Climate Change’ was launched in June 2023 and wrapped up in May 2025.
The project targeted communities in Group Village Heads Nkupu (Kadewere) and Dokotala (Traditional Authority Mpama) in Chiradzulu District.
Its main goal was to rehabilitate degraded landscapes and boost community resilience to climate-related challenges, particularly in the wake of destruction caused by Cyclone Freddy.
CURE Executive Director Charles Mkoka expressed appreciation to community members for their active involvement and support during the project period. He emphasised the importance of sustaining the achievements made and encouraged locals to apply the skills and knowledge acquired to secure their livelihoods amid growing climate uncertainty.
The project featured several core interventions, including training in group dynamics, nursery establishment and management, beekeeping (alongside the provision of apiary equipment), construction of check dams to mitigate soil erosion, and the promotion of eco-tourism at the Dokotala site.
On Friday, Village Natural Resources Committees (VNRCs) from the project areas gathered at CURE’s offices in Blantyre to reflect on the project’s outcomes and evaluate its progress.
During the gathering, Assistant District Forestry Officer Chimwemwe Maya urged communities to protect the infrastructure established through the initiative and to maintain ongoing collaboration with the Forestry Department to ensure long-term impact.
Rosina Kanyumba, a member of the Nkupu Village Natural Resources Management Committee, shared her reflections, highlighting the value of skills gained in gully reclamation, nursery management, leadership, and group coordination. She said these would continue to benefit the community in future conservation efforts.
The project received funding from the Germany-based International Climate Initiative (IKI) Small Grants Programme, and was implemented in partnership with the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (WESM) and the district-level Forestry Department.
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