Surviving in times of Climate Crisis—A Hannover/Blantyre Partnership

Surviving in times of Climate Crisis—A Hannover/Blantyre Partnership.

Represented by Mada Daniel Nkhoma, Umodzi wa a Malawi in Germany e.V. Participated in the collaborative discussions centred around sustainable solutions and innovative pathways to tackle the impacts of climate change in Malawi and Germany.

Focus: Malawi-Germany relationship nurtured by the twin cities of Blantyre and Hanover; Socio-economic and human rights in the context of climate change.

In a discussion with the first Chairwoman of Friends of Malawi in Germany, Mada reiterated that Malawi, one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, faces significant disruptions in its socioeconomic development. Recurrent flooding and extreme weather events, such as cyclones like Chiedza in 2015 and Freddy in 2023, destroy schools and learning materials. Many students are continuously forced out of school for extended periods. Flooding contaminates water supplies. Malawi experienced one of its worst cholera outbreaks in 2023, the cyclone Freddy year. Besides, health centres are rendered inaccessible; While el niño-induced droughts contribute to the hunger situation in Malawi.

Climate-induced costs are significant. “To put it into perspective, in 2015, the recovery costs of cyclone Chiedza alone amounted to 45% of government revenue while cyclone Freddy costs in 2023 were 30% of government revenue. That means allocations toward social-economic development are affected.” Mada echoed citing research done by GRADE at St Andrews. Umodzi wa a Malawi believes there is a need for a human-rights-based approach to international development. Investments in adaptation measures like climate-resilient infrastructure and climate-smart agriculture are key.

The workshop was organised and facilitated by Friends of Malawi in Hanover led by Frau Silvia Hesse under the theme; “Überleben in Zeiten der Klimakrise—was lernen wir und was können wir gemeinsam tun” literally “Surviving in times of Climate Crisis – what do we learn and what can we do together”

Location: Raschplatz, Hanover, Germany.

Notable Guests: Malawi Ambassador H.E Joseph Mpinganjira and the Mayor and CEO of Hanover, Mr Belit Nejat Onay and several impactful organisations’ representatives such as from the Institut für Welternährung e. V. (IWE)

Photo: Umodzi wa a Malawi in Germany e.V representative (in the cap) with Frau Silvia, the organiser.