Malawi is at an advanced stage in developing its new National State of the Environment and Outlook Report (NSEOR).
Scientists say the report is a critical instrument for evidence-based decision-making in environmental and natural resource management.
Following a week-long technical session in Lilongwe, over 60 Malawian scientists and experts finalised the first-order draft of the report, which is scheduled for completion and official launch in December 2025.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Director General of the Malawi Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), Wilfred Kadewa, said the document is expected to outline environmental changes and provide actionable insights.
“This is a vital tool for policymakers, researchers, and the general public,” said Kadewa.
“It helps identify what’s going wrong and what needs strengthening,” he added.
The last report was published in 2010. This long gap, experts say, has left regulators without a full picture of Malawi’s environmental trajectory.
One of the Co-Chairpersons of the NSEOR process, Zacharia Magombo, who is also Director General of the National Herbarium and Botanical Gardens of Malawi emphasised the collaborative efforts behind the current draft.
“We are halfway through,” said Magombo.
“We want to tell one story in the report, a consistent national environmental narrative backed by scientific evidence,” Magombo concluded.
The report assesses the quality and current trends in land, air, water, and biodiversity. It also aims to support Malawi’s 2063 development ambitions.
The Norwegian Government channelled funds to the Government of Malawi for the process, and MEPA is coordinating all activities involved in developing the report.
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