Chapter 2 Introduction

2.1 The Need for National Adaptation Plan

1. Climate change is a real development challenge causing unprecedented losses to economic gains achieved so far in least developed countries (LDCs) and the way forward is to integrate adaptation and development. The Global Climate Risk Index 2021 has shown that the effects of climate change are increasing and that intense and frequent extreme weather events are a major driver of disaster losses. The Risk Index places Malawi among the ten most affected countries in the world together with Mozambique and Zimbabwe . In addition to frequent and intense floods, Malawi has been experiencing reduced water availability, deteriorating water quality, reduced energy security and reduced agricultural productivity.

2. The Government of Malawi (GoM) has developed the national adaptation plan (NAP) to address medium– to long–term adaptation needs to achieve a twofold objective: (i) to reduce the country’s vulnerability to climate change by building adaptive capacity and resilience, and (ii) to facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation into development planning at national, district and local levels. Both objectives are rationalized upon recognition that, numerous development policies in the country have embraced adaptation agenda but largely driven by sector specific needs and options – consequently missing synergistic opportunities and sustainability while raising questions about effectiveness of predominant approaches to adaptation at multiple levels . In addition, the country has been pursuing stand-alone, project-based approaches to adaptation planning which largely fail to incorporate iterative planning as a means to respond to the different timescales of climate change impacts.

3. The NAP process takes an innovative approach by embracing all other relevant national plans, sectoral strategies and programmes on adaptation with a shared vision. By doing so, the NAP will function as a national policy instrument for coordinating and driving actions of all actors and stakeholders directed towards adaptation. Evolving through national policy documentary analysis and comprehensive engagement of all relevant sectors at the country level who worked in teams and committees for their technical input, the NAP achieves the much-needed relevance to national development needs. Thus, the NAP approach addresses the needs for adaptation, sustainable development and disaster risk reduction. All these themes span multiple sectors and scales, requiring action across a complex network of actors.

4. The NAP represents a living adaptation document based on summarized assessment of impacts, vulnerability and risk, and structured in a way to facilitate regular update to the assessments as new and additional information is collected. The NAP comprises adaptation priorities viewed from multiple lenses (such as climate hazards, sectors, administrative levels and scale), and essential adaptation polices, projects and programmes aligned with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) country programme in order to facilitate their implementation under the GCF. Its coherence and synergy with relevant issues at the national level facilitates reporting, monitoring and learning, nationally and internationally to the United Nation Framework Convection on Climate Change (UNFCC). Through successive updates the NAP will be expanded as needed and serve a different purpose over time.

2.2 Coherence with National and Global Development

5. The NAP links with both national and global development agendas cherished in various policies, programmes and processes. In the national context, the NAP is aligned with both medium-term and long-term development strategies including the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS 2017-2022), Malawi 2063 (MW2063), Malawi National Resilience Strategy (MNRS 2018- 2030), the National Agriculture Investment Plan (NAIP 2017/18-2022/23). However, these national policies address adaptation in silos of sectors. Implementation of sector-based strategies is often thwarted due to complex factors such as those discussed later and considered for action within the NAP framework.

6. The NAP coherently offers an integrated approach to adaptation with sustainable development and disaster risk reduction. Given the potential benefits of connectedness of adaptation, sustainable development and disaster risk reduction, further efforts have been undertaken to safeguard the nexus between the NAP and global initiatives such as the Sendai framework and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There are no explicit mentions of the SDGs or the Sendai Framework in the Paris Agreement, but the global goal on adaptation provides an umbrella for integrated actions when it calls for “enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change, with a view to contributing to sustainable development.”

7. The Sendai Framework makes clear reference to the challenges posed by climate change for disaster risk reduction while acknowledging the mandate of the UNFCCC as the primary oversight body for climate change policy. The Sendai Framework further highlights the role that climate change plays as a key driver of disaster risk, as well as the ability of adaptation and resilience-building to reduce disaster risk and achieve sustainable development. And, as with the Paris Agreement and the SDGs, the Sendai Framework specifically notes the importance of working with developing countries, in particular the LDCs, SIDS, landlocked developing countries and African countries, as well as with middle-income countries facing specific challenges.

8. A direct linkage exists between NAP and the SDG 13 on climate action which aims to “take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts” and has the following specific targets, among others: (a) Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries; (b) Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning; (c) Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning; (e) Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change related planning and management in the LDCs and small island developing States (SIDS), including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities. Not only SDG 13 that NAP is linked with in the context of SDGs, rather progress towards any of the SDGs is likely to increase resilience to climate change (as is the case with the SDGs on hunger, water, health, gender and ecosystems) or address some of the fundamental causes of climate change (captured in part by the SDGs on energy, infrastructure, cities, and consumption and production).

2.3 Methodological Approach

9. Preparation of the NAP followed the technical guidelines developed by the LEG. The guidelines contain a range of options for dealing with each element of the NAP based on principles guiding the process that was established building on the rich experiences of the LDCs in addressing adaptation through the National Adaptation Plan of Actions (NAPAs). The Malawi NAP process involves seven main approaches; a systems approach; horizontal and vertical integration; community-based participatory approach (CBPA); evidence-based approach; gender and human rights approach; and leveraging the private sector.

10. In line with the principles established by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and also in line with Malawi’s development goals, the guiding principles for the NAP process are: sustainable development, uplifting the poor and the vulnerable, gender, participation and ownership, incorporating traditional and Indigenous knowledge, and financial accountability and integrity.

11. The development of this framework and the implementation of the NAP are linked to both national and international development strategies and goals such as the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy I, II and III, Vision 2020, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 and the 2063 Agenda of the African Union. It has also been guided by various national and regional development policies such as the National Environmental Policy (NEP), National Climate Change Management Policy (NCCMP) and the National Climate Change Investment Plan (NCCIP).

2.4 Structure of the Text

12. The NAP consists of five chapters. Chapter 2 is a description of the methodological approach comprising the guiding principles, guidelines followed and how a systems approach to adaptation is employed to prepare the NAP. Chapter 3 establishes the national context within which the NAP is developed including the circumstances, institutional arrangements for climate change adaptation and the legal frameworks anchoring the NAP. In contrast Chapter 4, draws attention to some important challenges associated with integrated approaches to adaptation, sustainable development and disaster risk reduction, and presents several options to overcome those challenges and support enhanced adaptation action, looking at the role of NAPs in particular.