Participatory Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (PVCA) of Four Major Lakes in Malawi

Abstract

This report provides an analysis and evaluation of the current and prospective vulnerability to climate change of the people around the four Lakes in Malawi, namely, South East and South Western Arm of Lake Malawi, Lakes Chilwa, Chiuta and Malombe. It focuses on identifying and understanding the communities’ vulnerabilities (and their underlying causes) and capacities which can inform local level action plans to enhance their climate proofing, resilience to shock and reduce the effects of climate change. The study was conducted through focus group discussions (FGD) from four villages around the lakes and was triangulated through key informant interviews (KII) from different local committees: Village Civil Protection Committees (VCPC), Village Natural Resources Management Committees (VNRMCs), Area Development Committees (ADCs), Village Development Committees (VDCs), Village Health Committee, Beach Village Committees (BVC), Fisheries Associations (FA), school committees and farmer groups. The results show that the incidence of drought (dry spells), floods and strong mwera winds in recent times, increasingly affect the communities. Most reported disruption of their livelihoods through degradation of land resources (i.e. from flooding) and destruction of food and cash crops (i.e. both from floods, droughts and high winds), infrastructure damage (e.g. overtopping of roads), and loss of community and household productive assets. In some cases causing death at sea (from storms) and due to flooding. These have social, economic, and environmental adverse effects on the communities because they result in health hazards, food insecurity, loss of social cohesion, and can lead to natural resource destruction. Community members as coping strategies, tend to resort to unsustainable livelihoods such as charcoal burning for sale and fishing (leading to overfishing). The study further established that the available human, natural (indigenous) and social capacities within the communities and the central and decentralized local government and traditional authorities are inadequate for reducing communities’ vulnerability to these hazards. Climate proofing was needed. The report therefore concludes that enhancing the capacity of communities and their local village committees; promotion of integrated natural resources management skills; supporting climate-smart agriculture technologies; and provision of knowledge and early warning, and promotion of alternative/complementary livelihoods, can increase the communities’ resilience to the effects of climate change. The results of this analysis will subsequently be used by FISH to guide the project’s activities to reduce the vulnerability of communities to the impacts of climate change, as well as to support the monitoring and evaluation of the project’s activities. Findings will also be fed into the development of disaster risk reduction strategies at the district level, by inclusion in the district development plans