LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Climate Change and environmental experts have questioned President Lazarus Chakwera’s sincerity regarding to promises made two years on enactment of Disaster Risk Management Bill (DRM) that Friday’s February 17, 2023 State of National Address (SONA) leaves out the bill.
Not only that but also SONA skips carbon levy proceeds on how Chakwera’s Tonse Alliance Government is using resources from the basket.
In SONA, Chakwera only disclosed that his leadership has established the National Climate Change Fund (NCCF) with MK500 million in seed for its operationalization, a development has angered environmental and climate change experts.
In an exclusive interview with Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) National Coordinator Julius Ng’oma observes that Chakwera’s sincerity of promises made on DRM bill by ignoring it in the SONA speaks volume of leadership lip service.
Ng’oma wondered why Chakwera keeps on dodging on the bill while disasters still killing people and damaging properties due to one single approach of waiting disaster to strike then act.
“Two years after promised Malawians to enact DRM bill nothing has happened only giving excuses in draft form. The bill has many strategies and mechanism on how to address disasters than the current approach of waiting the disaster to strike then act.
“SONA omission on this serious issue questions Chakwera’s leadership whether is for people or not as disasters keep on claiming lives, damaging properties as only single approach is used. However, we will continue pushing for enactment of the bill for people’s interests,” assures Ng’oma.
Malawi not doing enough to contain disaster like floods
On Climate Change Fund’s seed money, Ng’oma queried as the funds are too little arguing that carbon levy has enough resources for full support towards climate change adaptation programs in Malawi.
“Carbon levy which was introduced two years ago has over MK2 billion which can be channeled directly to climate change adaptation programs. But funds are into account number One which now we don’t know its usage.
“Now with MK500 million allocated to NCCF as seed money, where is coming from? It is from Carbon levy? If its from Carbon levy then its too little as the whole fund needs enough resources not only operationalization seed money. Let Chakwera leadership come out clear on where does Carbon levy proceeds go,” dares Ng’oma.
In December 2020, during national address Chakwera committed himself that the bill would be tabled in Parliament and passed into law, come January 2021 seating.
Mkoka and Ng’oma (from left)
Two years down the line, nothing on the ground but only dilly-darling on the bill between Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) and Ministry of Justice.
The bill seeks to empower DoDMA to have proper funding from national budget not on unforeseen vote.
If enacted, the law will prevent people from staying in prone disasters areas.
…Two years after made promise on the bill, nothing to show
CISONECC and its partners addressing the news conference on Friday evening on delays of enacting disaster Bill
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera has been caught lying again on enactment of Disaster Risk Management Bill (DRM) two years after he made commitment passing it into law.
In December 2020, during national address Chakwera committed himself that the bill would be tabled in Parliament and passed into law, come January 2021 seating.
Two years down the line, nothing on the ground but only dilly-darling on the bill between Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) and Ministry of Justice.
The development has angered Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) and its partners as to why Chakwera commitment has not been materialized despite finalization of the bill’s paper work through thorough consultations.
Addressing the news conference on Friday evening, December 16, 2022 in the capital Lilongwe CISONECC National Coordinator Julius Ng’oma expressed worrisome over lack of political will from executive arm of government.
Ng’oma has dared Chakwera to fulfil his promises on the bill arguing that two years is a long time considering urgent matter surrounding the bill.
“Was President Chakwera commitment national address on the matter real or political statement? Look, Members of Parliament (MPs) are ready to deliberate and pass the bill into law. But the challenges remains with DoDMA and Executive arm of government.
“We hear that there is no draft bill when all in all we have exhausted our energies for inputs that Malawi should have preparedness law on disaster. If there are gaps in the draft bill, Ministry of Justice could come to us than seating on it while disasters still striking hard, claiming lives,” worried Ng’oma.
Echoing on the same, Dr. Isaac Tchuwa of Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) observes that delaying in enacting the bill into the law poses threat to disaster prone areas.
“The new law mandates government to relocate people from risk disaster areas that whoever in disagreement, the same law punishes them. But this is not possible without enactment,” worried Dr.Tchuwa.
In October this year, DoDMA commissioner Charles Kalemba told The Maravi Post that the bill was at Cabinet Committe that come November-December 2022 budget review Parliament session, the bill would see light of the day.
But noting of that sort happened as the budget review meeting came to an end on Friday, December 16 without even showing the bill on the order paper.
This publication understands that some politicians and government officials are benefiting from disasters that the law will put to stop unnecessary public resources expenditures.
If the bill is enacted into law, government will be mandated to have clear budget vote on disasters, proper relocation of people from prone disasters areas among others things.
Below is the full CISONECC Press statement of delays of DRM bill enactment:
NON-STATE ACTORS’ COMMUNIQUE ON THE NEED TO URGENTLY FINALIZE AND ENACT THE DRM BILL
The Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) and partners, convened a Stakeholders Meeting on the need to finalize and enact the Disaster Risk Management Bill on 24th November 2022. The meeting brought together stakeholders from various sectors which include Academia, Civil Society, Media, the Private Sector, and community representatives.
The engagement took place at a time the DRM Bill is yet to be tabled in Parliament despite the process dating back to 2015.
As stakeholders in climate change and disaster risk management sector; We recognize the need for multi-stakeholder involvement in the formulation and implementation of various climate change and disaster risk management policy frameworks in Malawi with a particular focus on the implementation of the National Climate Change Management Policy, and the National Disaster Risk Management Policy.
We acknowledge the importance of the development and implementation of resilience policies in facilitating the effective coordination, financing, and implementation of multi-sectoral programs to avert the impacts of climate change in Malawi.
Malawi’s resilience framework calls upon all sectors and stakeholders to pursue a proactive and integrated way of reducing the impacts of climate change hazards through sustainable, innovative, and realistic strategies with strong partnerships and networks.
We commend the interest and the commitment of the Government of Malawi in participatory formulation and implementation of the resilience policies and also the support of the development partners through the provision of technical and financial support in developing policies and their implementation.
We reiterate our unwavering commitment in the hunt for solutions that seek to reduce the impacts of climate change and enthuse national resilience thereby mitigate impacts of disasters.
We understand that there is an interplay of constraining technical, financial, and political factors and that there are some capacities and incapacities among us as stakeholders but we resolve to come together and tap into each other’s strengths and efforts to enhance national resilience and safeguard human dignity and a sustainable future.
We are concerned with resistance by the Government of Malawi to have the DRM Bill tabled in parliament as evidenced by the back-and-forth engagements between the Department of Disaster Management Affairs and the Ministry of Justice.
We also lament that the Government of Malawi is losing a lot of resources in disaster related expenses; a situation which can easily be abated by the provisions of the DRM Bill once enacted. We, therefore, present the following demands in relation to the finalization and enactment of the DRM Bill into law, as well as general disaster risk management;
Depoliticize the DRM Bill CSOs and Stakeholders in the DRM sector started advocating for the enactment of the DRM Bill way back in 2017. There was a glimpse of hope when the draft bill was gazetted on 10th May 2019 that it would soon be enacted in the August House. Since then, there have been back-and-forth discussions between DoDMA and the Ministry of Justice which have not yielded any tangible outcome, an indication that the delay might be caused by a lack of political will. The Government should seriously consider desisting from politicizing the DRM Bill and DRM issues in the country. The CSOs and stakeholders appeal that DoDMA should be independent of the political spheres’ interference, and the implementation of the bill needs to be free of political interference in all forms and any relief items that the government is providing should not in any way carry the political names, flags or colors.
Invest in Disaster Risk Reduction In the past 3 years, Malawi has been hit by devastating Tropical storms that have rendered thousands of people displaced, injured, and others dead, destroying their belongings and crop fields. In times of these disasters, civil society organizations, the private sector, development partners, and well-wishers always show their support by giving different forms of assistance. This year, prior to Tropical Storm Ana, over MWK7 billion kwacha was mobilized for response and recovery during and after the 2021/2022 rainfall season. 10 months after the Tropical Cyclones Ana and Gombe, the country is yet to recover from the damages caused by the cyclones despite spending a lot of funds. It is worrisome that such amounts are biased towards responding to the recovery of communities from disaster effects and not towards reducing the vulnerabilities of people and ecosystems at risk through disaster risk reduction. Meanwhile, years have passed with CSOs still lobbying the Government to enact the Disaster Risk Management Bill to pave way for investments in disaster risk reduction. It is evident that “fixing the economic system in order to create wealth for Malawians” should include investing in the DRM sector where Malawians lose wealth, which they amassed throughout the year to disasters whose impact can be prevented. In addition, “fixing the agricultural system to achieve food security for Malawians” must include investing in strong infrastructure for harvesting the runoff water for irrigation purposes after the rainfall season rather than letting it loose and destroying lives and livelihoods. Organizations and communities can implement climate change adaptation interventions but there is a need for Government to redirect the focus from disasters to disaster risk reduction!
Strengthen the Capacity for key actors in DRM Stakeholders, including the CSOs, should play a role in ensuring that the community level, as well as district level structures that have been put in place, are well-capacitated for the roles the bill and policies provide for. The devolution plan should therefore be activated as soon as the bill is passed and decentralization of the functions in the department should already be underway to ensure smooth implementation of the Bill, since disasters are emergencies that are not planned.
Set up an Information Management System for Disaster Risk Management Government through DoDMA and EAD as well as the CSOs working in the Climate Change and DRM should ensure that they develop a comprehensive Information Management System (IMS) to avoid providing conflicting information between the national level institutions and the decentralized levels on reporting DRM issues. The IMS will facilitate the collection, storage, organization, and dissemination of DRM information amongst stakeholders. It will also enhance the utilization of information for informed decision-making, information analysis, and visualization among others. The IMS will ensure that data and information are easily accessed through an integrated, centralized IMS for transparency and stakeholder mapping. CISONECC members, Board, Secretariat and its partners reaffirm its continued commitment to assisting the Government of Malawi in addressing impacts of climate change and disasters through risk management in partnership with the responsible Ministries and other stakeholders. We look forward to the government taking positive action to consider the Draft DRM Bill as a matter of urgency
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) National Coordinator, Julius Ng’oma is appealing to developed nations to fulfill pledges made on climate financing.
Ng’oma observes that if resources are available to Least Developing Nations including Malawi will able financing for disasters.
He was speaking in an going African Regional Conference on Loss, Damage and Climate Financing under way in the capital Lilongwe.
Ng’oma: We want resources now
Ng’oma therefore commended Malawi Government for creating an enabling environment for climate action in Malawi by among others, developing the National Disaster Risk Financing Strategy, a blue print for financing disaster risk management including preparedness, relief and rehabilitation in Malawi.
He lauded government for the establishment of the National Climate Change Management Fund, which aims at promoting climate change adaptation, mitigation, technology transfer and capacity building for sustainable livelihoods through Green Economy measures.
“We also appreciate the introduction of the carbon tax, a levy that the government introduced as part of the government’s initial steps to mitigate the effects of climate change in the country. As we appreciate such milestones, and remembering that this event is about climate finance.
“I would like to submit the following: there is need that the mentioned Disaster Risk Financing Strategy be fully implemented so that financing for disasters in Malawi is adequate and predictable. There is also need for the capitalization of the mentioned National Climate Change Management Fund. And we can start by channeling resources from the carbon levy into this fund,” he said.
The Director of Environmental Affairs in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Tawonga Mbale-Luka observed that Covid-19 pandemic and persistent challenges caused by climate change continue to frustrate “our hard work and progress made in advancing the Malawi 2063 agenda as well as the global 2030 agenda on Sustainable development.”
Mbale-Luka added that while the world is emerging from the depth of an economic crisis, recovery remains slow on the African continent due to vulnerabilities exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and persistent challenges caused by climate change.
Mbale Luka
‘Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to climate change and climate variability. This situation has been aggravated by the interaction of ‘multiple stresses’, occurring at various levels, and low adaptive capacity of the continent.
“A study published by UNICEF in September 2020 showed that 11 million people are expecting crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity in 9 SADC countries due to deepening drought and climate crisis,” she said.
The Director of Environmental Affairs said due to these calamities, an estimated 11 million people are experiencing food crisis from nine countries alone.
The conference is under the theme, “Consolidating African Voice on loss and damage and climate finance ahead of COP27.The meeting has attracted participants from civil societies, government officials, academia, media locally and abroad.The conference runs from from April 25-29, 2022 at Golden Peacock.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) is geared to meet President Lazarus Chakwera on stalled enactment of Disaster Risk Management Bill.
CISONECC National Coordinator Julius Ng’oma told the news conference on Monday, February 21, 2022 that the enactment of the bill is long over due that urgent attention from high office needs to intervene.
Ng’oma (in the middle) addressing journalists flanked by Chikondi Chabvuta (right) and Mahara Nyirenda
This comes barely a year after President Chakwera promised the nation of the bill enactment in Parliament amid escalation of disasters that needs updated approach than the passive being used.
Ng’oma observes that the government has not made much focus to reduce the vulnerabilities of people through disaster risk reduction.
“Years have passed with CSOs still lobbying Government to enact the Disaster Risk Management Bill to pave way for investments in disaster risk reduction. It is evident that “fixing the economic system in order to create wealth for Malawians” should include investing in DRM sector where Malawians lose wealth, they amassed throughout the year to disasters whose impacts can be prevented.
“In addition, “fixing the agricultural system to achieve food security for Malawians” must include investing in strong infrastructure for harvesting the runoff water for irrigation purposes after the rainfall season rather than letting it loose and destroy lives and livelihoods,” says Ng’oma.
He added, “Organizations and communities can implement climate change adaptation interventions but there is a need for Government to redirect the focus on disasters to disaster risk reduction. Malawi Government to promote transparency and accountability in climate financing if the country is to continue enjoying the international support.
Ng’oma also observed that despite establishing a carbon levy to support climate change interventions through the National Climate Change Fund, the government has not yet allocated the resources accrued from the levy to the Fund.
He was addressing the news conference along side Chikondi Chabvuta of Care Malawi and Mahara Nyirenda of Development Fund of Norway.
They also lamented government’s lack of seriousness in prioritizing and action transparency and accountability in climate finance, investment in disaster risk reduction, promotion of solar-powered irrigation farming, promotion of farming as a business, promoting access to clean energy and embracing resilience building in transport and public works.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) with its stakeholders are pushing for a new Disaster Risk Management Policy (DRM) that has full resources while implementing sustainably without waiting disasters to strike.
CISONECC told the civil society consultation meeting on Thursday, December 9, 2021 that the just ended 2015 DRM policy lacked resources while not tallying with international disaster protocols including Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015 -2030).
CISONECC National Coordinator Julius Ng’oma told the review meeting Malawi should strive for effective policy that is aligned with the much awaited DRM law for addressing disasters sustainably.
Ng’oma expects the new policy that will give strategy for serious local resources mobilization without much dependency on developing partners, donors.
“We want the new policy that speaks to the yet to be law in-terms of addressing risk without waiting disasters to strike then react. We need a policy will be fully funded with locally available resources without always donors.
“We expect also the policy that meets international protocols including Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015 -2030) for action,” says Ng’oma.
Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA)’s Chief Economist Officer Boyd Amela agrees that the just expired DRM policy met resources constraints.
Amela however was quick to point out achievements in public raising awareness on disaster risk management at local levels for actions.
He therefore assured the nation that DRM bill will be soon passed into law that resources be given a priority for the policy and strategies implementation.
The review meeting attracted participants from government agencies, communities, civil society, academia and the media.
For effective participation of the civil society in disaster risk management, the need for knowledge and understanding on international and local instruments that guide disaster risk management hence the civil society consultation meeting to input into the process of DRM Policy review and Dissemination of the Sendai Framework for Action.
CISONECC with support from Irish Aid through Trocaire is therefore implementing the Resource Rights Programme (RRP); Climate Advocacy Project (CAP) which aims at ensuring that people living in poverty particularly women and children benefit from the sustainable use of natural resources.
Through this project, CISONECC has been supporting the Government of Malawi to see to it that relevant policies in Malawi and internationally are advanced to support poor farmers’ right to access and manage resources and to build resilience to climate shocks.
In this regard, CISONECC supported the development of the Disaster Risk Management Policy which was adopted in 2015.
With the policy’s span coming to an end in 2019, the Government of Malawi is in the process of reviewing the process and developing a successor policy.
CISONECC membership and Natural Resources Parliamentary Committee members
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) and Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources this week expressed worrisome over delays in tabling and passing of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Draft Bill into law.
The two bodies have argued that the delays put the sector into awkward path of failing to respond to disaster with adhoc approach.
Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources Chairperson Werani Chilenga told CISONECC’ stakeholders conference Mponera in Dowa that the bill’ stall blame should be placed on Office of President and Cabinet (OPC) which has no interest in pushing the bill to Parliament.
Chilenga therefore demanded the removal of Department of Disaster and Management (DoDMA) from OPC to be placed at Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources for effective operation of its duty mandate.
“Since 2014 the bill has been up and running till now. This is despite numerous reviews to fine-tune the bill but the OPC has frustrated all the efforts. We want DoDMA to be out of OPC where resources are being abused. DoDMA must belong to its parent ministry of natural resources for its effective duty mandate,” says Chilenga.
Julius Ng’oma CISONECC’s National Coordinator echoed on the same saying that DoDMA split from OPC will have a stand alone allocation in the national budget.
Ng’oma observes that DoDMA has been used as conduit of diverting resources from authorities as it get unforeseen vote in the national budget.
He however said the tabling of the DRM) Draft Bill will give clear mandate of the DoDMA on risk disaster management than then the old 1991 Disaster Act which was put in place to respond to Phalombe disaster.
“The current bill has component of financing, budgeting, insurance and preparedness for disasters of any kind which will help many unlike the old law of 1991. We think DoDMA must be removed from OPC whic is preoccupied with state matters forsaking disasters.
‘As we stand now, no ministry is responsible for DoDMA apart from OPC which makes it difficult to set agenda for disaster risk management. If DoDMA is under Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources, its easy to take to task the responsible minister,” says Ng’oma.
He added, “CISONECC intends to engage the Office of the President and Cabinet through the Minister of Forestry and Natural Resources on the urgency of tabling the Bill. This is in recognition of the fact that parliament cannot pass a Bill that is not tabled. Hence, the need for the Office of the President to urgently facilitate the tabling of the Bill in parliament as was promised in the President’s National Address of October 19, 2020”.
CISONECC with support from Irish Aid through Trocaire is implementing a Resource Rights Programme (RRP) – Climate Advocacy Project (CAP).
Through the project, CISONECC has been engaging representatives of Parliamentary Committees on Budget and Finance and Natural Resources and Climate Change on the urgency of passing the draft Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Bill.
Currently, the bill still remain in OPC despite President Lazarus Chakwera assurance that his leadership push for passing of the bill into law.
The proposed Disaster Risk Management Bill envisages to facilitate the paradigm shift from disaster response to disaster risk management.
This will be done through a robust institutional framework (with technical leadership) for integrating disaster risk reduction into sustainable development and provide adequate multi-stakeholder participation in disaster risk management activities in Malawi.
Hence, the current DRM Bill formulation process is part of a multi-prolonged response to alleviate the economic and humanitarian costs associated with the impact of Climate Change with a longer-term objective to strengthen the institutional and financial capacity of the Government of Malawi (GoM) for multisector disaster and climate risk management.
According to the proposed DRM Bill, this is longer term objective that will be achieved by facilitating the implementation of key policy and institutional reforms that will enable the country to be better prepared for responding to future disaster related emergencies.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Civil Society Organisation Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) is emphasizing the need for its membership to understand legal framework that govern proper management of natural resources particularly protected areas in the face of effects of climate change.
CISONECC says clear understanding of polices will help its membership to implement well programs while meeting communities needs.
With funding European Union (EU) through Trocaire, CISONECC is building climate resilient communities through conservation, effective management of natural resources, and diversified livelihoods, particularly for women, youth, and people with disabilities, surrounding Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve, Kasungu National Park and Lengwe National Park.
CISONECC National Coordinator Julius Ng’oma told the one day orientation on December 10, 2020 in the capital Lilongwe that its membership must be acquainted with policies, legal frameworks that govern environmental management for easy programs implementation.
Ng’oma expects the network members to have enhanced knowledge on laws and policies governing wildlife and forest management including other resilience building policies and strategies.
“This session to make sure that membership network and other Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) has enhanced understanding of the entry points in supporting implementation and monitoring of laws and policies on resilience buidling and natural resources conservation in Malawi.
“CSOs have enhanced understanding of the concept of advocacy at community, national and international levels and have strengthened capacity to effectively work with communities in forest and wildlife management and conservation,” says Ng’oma.
Building Climate Resilient Communities around Wildlife Protected Areas’ Trocaire Project Coordinator Salome Mumba expressed optimism towards various up-scaling resilient and coping mechanism activities.
Mumba singled out value changed intervention for economic empowerment including bee keeping, goat farming, forest products harvest; weaving and juice making.
She expects the intervention to caution communities from economic hardship while managing the natural resources in protected areas.
Participants to CISONECC Climate and Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance (CDRFI) dialogue session
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) is at advanced level in raising awareness on financing and insuring disasters for effective and efficient Climate and Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance (CDRFI) policies in Malawi
CISONECC observes that there is till other stakeholders needed to be reached for multi-sectoral approach towards climate change adaptation mechanism.
CISONECC National Coordinator Julius Ng’oma told The Maravi Post during the two day stakeholders dialogue session in Salima on CDRFI, November 25-26, 2020 that the conversation of the topic matter will help government to develop effective policies towards climate change adaption.
Ng’oma says the dialogue session is focusing on experiences sharing which will strengthen climate change resilient for a broader approach.
“We are at an advance stage on Climate and Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance discussion which has allowed key stakeholder sharing experiences that will help government to come up with effective and efficient policies.
“We want raise much awareness among the communities on how insurance can be a practice in readiness of any climate change effects, ” says Ng’oma.
The session attracted participants including CSOs working in agriculture and climate change management, government officials, insurance, financing institutions, the academia and the media.
Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) with funding from the government of German through CARE German and CARE Malawi under the project Multi-stakeholder partnership on climate and disaster risk financing and preparedness in the context of the InsuResilience Global Partnership’ has developed a Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) strategy and tools for Climate and Disaster Risk Financing Insurance (CDRFI) to enhance the active engagement of various stakeholders in the PME of various CDRFI initiatives in Malawi.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Civil Society Organisation on Climate Change (CISONECC) while recommending Tonse government leadership for creation of special account for funds collected under carbon tax,is demanding transparency on the funds usage.
The demand comes after government succumbed to pressure to create the account unlike previously proceeds deposited into account number one.
Recently, finance officials revealed that MK1.2 billion of carbon levy funds was placed in the consolidated account number one contrary to an earlier commitment to channel the same towards environmental protection.
But in the 2020/2021 fiscal year, the Ministry of Finance has committed to make the Malawi Environmental Protection Authority–MEPA a custodian of the three billion kwacha projected to be collected as carbon tax.
Chairperson of parliamentary committee on Natural Resources and Climate Change, Welani Chilenga has since commended Finance Minister, Felix Mlusu for the move saying the levy will now serve its intended purpose.
CISONECC National Coordinator Julius Ng;’oma told the Maravi Post that the move was his grouping’s demand.
Ng’oma says stakeholders want to be in the known on exact usage of the funds and who will manage the proceeds.
” We commend Government for taking that decision to create a special account for carbon tax for transparency sake. We hope the stakeholders will be made aware once this special account is created and how the account will managed.
“The Government may still need to elaborate on what happens to the funds being collected during the transition period (as we wait for the creation of the special account), especially where will the funds be deposited and what kind of activities will the funds be used for,” says Ng’oma.
He added, “Civil society and other stakeholders demands to be made aware on this for transparency as we know that the Carbon Tax is still being collected through fuel levy.
“We also demand that terms of reference be developed on collection, utilization and management of the collected funds as a way of ensuring there is transparency on management of carbon tax and that the funds are no longer subjected to abuse or missallocation such as support towards activities that are not climate or environmental related. Clear linkages will need to be created between the carbon tax management and the climate change fund”.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) is calling the Tonse government leadership to swiftly operationalise Climate Change Funds that the sectors stakeholders start tapping resources for various intervention programs.
CISONECC also demands proper usage of carbon tax proceeds being collected from local motorists that the funds be channeled to climate change related projects.
The grouping observes that carbon tax proceeds are being mismanaged considering that are being deposited on account number one whose activities are not known.
CISONECC National Coordinator Julius Ng’oma to The Maravi Post during the sidelines of operationalization of a multi-stakeholder platform on climate and disaster risk financing and insurance (CDRFI) conference in Dowa this week that it’s high time locals started tapping resources from climate change funds.
Participants to operationalization of a multi-stakeholder platform on climate and disaster risk financing and insurance (CDRFI) conference
Ng’oma observes that despite progress funds being gazzeted document on Climate Change funds, full operationalization was vital.
“International Climate Change funds are difficult to be tapped that its implementation locally also poses a challenge hence the need for our own local basket.
“The appeal also goes to carbon tax (proceeds) collected need to be challenged to this Climate Change Fund for proper usage than being put into account number one,” urges Ng’oma.
CISONECC is implementing a project titled Multi-stakeholder partnership on climate and disaster risk financing and preparedness in the context of the InsuResilience Global Partnership’ with funding from the government of Germany through CARE Germany and CARE Malawi.
While aiming to reduce the negative consequences of disaster and climate change on development opportunities and living conditions of vulnerable Malawians, the project intends to create a multi-actor dialogue platform (MAP) at national level in order to promote the development and implementation of gender-equitable, poverty-oriented and human rights based approaches to climate and disaster risk financing.
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