By Mwai Mtumodzi
Journalists have been urged to report on natural disasters with accuracy, urgency, fairness and a focus on inspiring hope to strengthen climate resilience in Malawi.
The call was made by a communication specialist for the Regional Climate Resilience Program RCRP-2 Yvone Sundu, during a media orientation training for the RCRP-2.
Sundu said the media is a strategic partner of the government in climate resilience as it reaches about 90 % of Malawians through radio, television, newspapers, and online.
“Media is a trusted voice that can shape public behaviour through early warning messages. Without informed citizens, even the best early warning system fails,” Sundu said. “The RCRP-2 program trusts the media in creating awareness and turning technical forecasts into life-saving messages such as those about rainfall patterns and cyclones. Through the media we believe we can promote behavior change like encouraging people to move from flood-prone areas.”
Sundu said these interventions are in all 28 districts, and some activities focus on the Shire River Basin and the Central and Southern parts of Malawi.
One of the participants, Vincent Khonje, District Information Officer for Mchinji, described the orientation as eye-opening.
“The training has helped me understand my role as a journalist in climate resilience issues. Through this training, I have learnt to understand the technical language in disaster issues as well as the flow of information. ” Said Khonje.
RCRP-2 is a five-year Government of Malawi programme running from 2024 to 2028. It is being implemented through the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation with financial support from the World Bank amounting to US$250 million. Of this amount, US$240 million is allocated to Malawi, while US$10 million supports activities under the African Union.
Implementing institutions include the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS), Department of Forestry, National Water Resources Authority, Department of Land Resources and Conservation, Department of Water Resources Services, Blantyre City Council and Zomba City Council.
