The UK Government has launched its Action Plan to support Malawi’s efforts to respond to climate change. Permanent Secretary for the Department for International Development (DFID), Minouche Shafik, and Malawi’s Vice President, Joyce Banda, launched the Action Plan at the High Commissioner’s Residence in Lilongwe on 17 September.

The Action Plan, to be jointly implemented by DFID Malawi, and the British Council, will cost an estimated MK 236 million (£1m) over the two years 2009-2011.

It aims to support the Government of Malawi in providing a leadership role on climate change and putting in place effective institutional governance arrangements for climate change action. The Action Plan also aims to promote climate resilience in Malawi by championing programmes that reduce people’s vulnerability to the effects of climate change and help Malawi to respond to trends in climate by planing ahead. The Action Plan aims to raise Malawi’s voice on climate change issues in international fora.

In a statement at the launch, DFID Permanent Secretary, Minouche Shafik, said climate change is a strategic priority for the UK Government as it represents one of the greatest threats to poverty reduction in the world. Ms Shafik said the UK Government is committed to working with developing countries like Malawi to help them tackle the critical challenge of climate change.

Vice President Joyce Banda said climate change threatens to undermine Malawi’s social and economic development and its ability to meet the Millennium Development Goals. Honourable Banda said putting in place a comprehensive strategic framework, including strong mitigation and adaptation measures to address the effects of climate change in Malawi, is one of the Government’s priorities.

The Vice President commended the UK Government for the support it is providing to Malawi to address the threats posed by climate change and natural disasters like floods and droughts.

“We will be looking up to developed countries like Britain to ensure a fair and effective global framework is reached to drive investment in low carbon energy and adaptation. Significantly, Malawi would like to benefit from the carbon financing arrangements within the framework of the Kyoto protocol’s clean development mechanism to finance environmentally sustainable projects”, Banda said.

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