Smart Climate

Malawi is among the poorest countries in the world. More than half of the population lives below the poverty line, with very low life expectancy, high rates of malnutrition and child undernutrition, and an economy centered on subsistence agriculture. The country is highly subject to extreme weather phenomena due to climate change, which aggravate the vulnerable situation of the affected communities.

CISP has been committed since 2014 to fight food insecurity and promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the country.

The SMART CLIMATE project brings together a number of different actors, such as International and Local NGOs, universities and private sector entities, to concentrate efforts and related sectoral experiences on five key areas of intervention:

• AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT. Increase in agricultural production and productivity, promotion of sustainable agriculture techniques and tools resilient to climate change.
• Improvement of nutritional practices of mothers and children, in particular children under 5 years of age.
• DEVELOPMENT OF VALUE CHAIN. Support to the rice value chain, a fundamental crop both for self-consumption and as a commercial crop, and therefore useful for improving food security and household income at the same time.
• DISASTER RISK REDUCTION. Improvement of community tools and systems for Disaster Risk Reduction, through the collection, dissemination and use of meteorological and climate data at community level.
• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. Environmental rehabilitation, through reforestation and ecosystem restoration activities.

The project also implements an innovative participatory research for the identification and selection of rice seeds resistant to climate change.

Finally, the inclusion of people with disabilities in all project activities will be guaranteed, as well as the training of the personnel of the organizations involved and of the local government staff.

The overall objective of the action is to contribute towards improved resilience of communities in central and northern regions of Malawi to unpredictable climate challenges and pandemic consequences.

More specifically, the action aims to enhance the capacity of communities in Karonga and Nkhotakota districts to stabilize their food and nutrition security, generate sustainable livelihoods, project and safeguard their livelihood assets against the effects of climate change and the pandemic.

• Promotion of sustainable agriculture practices.
• Community-based participatory research to select local rice varieties with high production potential, suited to the specific climatic conditions and territories of intervention.
• Training and awareness on the improvement of nutritional practices.
• Training and support to rice cooperatives and water management committees.
• Support for the processing and marketing of rice.
• Training and support to savings and loan groups and creation of a revolving fund.
• Strengthening of the system of collection, management and analysis of meteorological and climatic data at Community level.
• Environmental protection, ecosystem restoration and reforestation.