From response to preparedness: Enhancing community-led disaster risk management in Malawi

Malawi is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, leading to climate-induced food insecurity. Despite various resilience enhancement programs over the past decade, resource mobilization for Village Civil Protection Committees (VCPCs) responsible for disaster risk management (DRM) has been minimal, with activities focused on response rather than preparedness. This policy note details the process assessment conducted by Titukulane to understand community-led resource mobilization initiatives by VCPCs in Zomba and Mangochi districts.

This note indicates that directing resources towards early warning systems and community sensitization mitigates the impact of natural disasters on vulnerable communities, prioritizing proactive measures over reactive responses. Allocating resources to bolster district-level DRM structures and recognizing the pivotal role of youth are crucial. Inclusive participatory planning processes should embrace indigenous early warning information. Investing in automated community-based early warning systems facilitates timely decision-making and harnesses local wisdom. To reduce vulnerability among low-income communities, forging partnerships with the private sector is crucial.