| Overview : Malawi’s dependence on natural resources and limited capacity to withstand shocks makes it vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In response, Malawi developed a comprehensive policy framework for climate change management and recently revised its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC); putting across ambitious actions to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2040. The NDC prioritizes mitigation actions in the key sectors of Agriculture, Forestry and Land use (AFOLU), Energy, Waste and Industrial Processes as the highest contributors to the country’s GHG emissions or sectors with the highest potential of reducing projected emissions. Under the Energy sector, the NDC proposes actions that reduce reliance on biomass and unsustainable charcoal for domestic use. Only 11.4% of the population is connected to the national electricity grid, with biomass forming 97% of the total primary domestic energy supply (59% is used as firewood, and 41% is converted into charcoal). The NDC also responds to and prioritizes key strategic adaptation actions to accelerate climate resilience. Scaling NDC Actions, JSB project As part of this mandate, UNDP Malawi will support the government’s efforts in implementing the NDC by advancing mitigation and co-adaptation interventions through a one-year project, “Scaling up NDC actions on climate change mitigation and adaptation” (from March 2022 to March 2023) with support from the Japan Supplementary Budget (JSB). The project supports the implementation of the NDC through improving access to clean and affordable energy, ecosystem and landscape restoration and climate-resilient agriculture systems. The project will deliver sustainable adaptation and mitigation interventions in line with the NDC and national priorities and will benefit selected critical ecosystems through two main components:
United Nations Development Programme
1. Scaled-up adoption and implementation of climate-resilient infrastructure technologies related to energy for greening the environment;
2. Strengthened implementation of forestry landscape restoration measures to enhance ecosystem management; and Improved climate-resilient agriculture practices.
Under Component 1, UNDP will support communities in selected districts to transit to renewable energy sources to reduce pressures on critical natural resources and reduce GHG emissions from deforestation and kerosene use. The project will support the promotion and use of alternative
energy sources to biomass energy for cooking and heating such as briquettes and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) and pellets and promote the distribution and uptake of effective technologies/innovations (including implementation of behaviour change models as required). For instance, the project will engage in the dissemination (with a focus on household capacity) of 10,000 improved cook stoves by 2023 and innovative eco-technologies. Component 1 of the project is also expected to target a further 1,000 houses with energy services in the two cities of Lilongwe and Zomba and further reach the urban population with tailored communication. Against this background, UNDP will partner with a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) to support the delivery of renewable energy services to the urban cities under Component 1 of the project targeting 1,000 households. The partnership will leverage CSO presence in the cities of Lilongwe
and Zomba, previous and ongoing ecosystem restoration and renewable energy interventions and capacity to support effective communication and M&E Component 1. The partner will further engage with key players, private sector service providers and stakeholders in the delivery of
services and products in renewable energy (improved home cooking, briquettes and LPG) in the cities |
