LocationsGetting help where it is needed: EU and UNDP support Malawi’s disaster preparedness
October 2, 2026
UNDP Resident Representative Fenella Frost (far right) and EU Ambassador Daniel Aristi Gaztelumendi (second from right) symbolically hand over the vehicle to DoDMA Commissioner Wilson Moleni.
The European Union, through its European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) handed over a vehicle to Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) on Tuesday, 29 September 2026 to help its teams reach communities, assess needs and coordinate action when floods and other hazards threaten.
The handover at Capital Hill in Lilongwe comes as Malawi prepares for the 2026/27 El Niño season. It builds on the project Strengthening All-Inclusive Disaster Preparedness and Linking Early Warning to Early Action, which supported efforts to strengthen preparedness in urban areas and connect warnings with action on the ground.
EU Ambassador Daniel Aristi Gaztelumendi, DoDMA Commissioner Wilson Moleni and UNDP Resident Representative Fenella Frost attended the ceremony alongside officials from the participating institutions.
The vehicle will support DoDMA’s field assessments, monitoring, preparedness activities and emergency response. It will help teams maintain a presence in communities and coordinate timely action when warnings indicate that support is needed.
EU Ambassador Daniel Aristi Gaztelumendi delivers remarks during the vehicle handover to DoDMA, highlighting the importance of preparedness in saving lives.
This ceremony may be centred on one vehicle, but it speaks to something much larger. It speaks to preparedness. And preparedness saves lives.Mr. Daniel Aristi Gaztelumendi, European Union Ambassador to Malawi
Malawi’s experiences with floods, droughts, storms and cyclones have highlighted the importance of preparing before disasters occur. For communities facing these risks, early warnings need to be accompanied by practical support, preparedness plans and institutions able to act quickly.
DoDMA Commissioner Wilson Moleni described the vehicle as “an operational tool that will support preparedness, early warning, anticipatory action, assessments, coordination and emergency response.”
He said the handover reflected a shared commitment to strengthening Malawi’s disaster preparedness system and ensuring that warnings lead to action that protects communities.
DoDMA Commissioner Wilson Moleni delivers remarks during the vehicle handover, emphasising the importance of turning early warnings into timely action.
This handover is therefore not just about receiving a vehicle. It represents a shared commitment by Government and you, our partners to strengthen Malawi's disaster preparedness system and to ensure that warnings lead to timely action that saves lives, protects livelihoods and reduces disaster impacts.Mr. Wilson Moleni, DoDMA Commissioner
He also committed to ensuring that the vehicle is properly managed, maintained and used responsibly to serve communities across Malawi.
Strengthening preparedness in urban areas
The project supported communities and institutions to better anticipate risks, prepare for hazards and respond when disasters occur.
City and ward disaster risk management committees received skills and tools for preparedness and response. Through contingency planning and resources for priority preparedness actions, the project supported 376,811 people across 16 wards.
Drainage rehabilitation and community-led clearing also helped improve drainage systems serving 198,444 people, reducing exposure to urban flooding.
The project supported an impact-based flood forecasting system that brings together weather forecasts, hydrological modelling, rainfall and water-level monitoring. This approach helps institutions understand the potential effects of a forecast and identify appropriate preparedness measures.
Building on the Commissioner’s call for timely action, UNDP Resident Representative Fenella Frost emphasised the importance of strengthening DoDMA’s ability to reach and support communities.
UNDP Resident Representative Fenella Frost (right) delivers remarks during the vehicle handover, highlighting support for DoDMA’s disaster preparedness and response.
It is about strengthening the capacity of DoDMA to be where it is needed, when it is needed, and to support communities before, during and after disasters.Ms. Fenella Frost, UNDP Malawi Resident Representative
Turning warnings into timely action
As Malawi prepares for the 2026/27 El Niño season, the vehicle adds practical operational capacity to DoDMA’s preparedness and coordination work.
UNDP remains committed to working with DoDMA, the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, local authorities and other partners to strengthen early warning systems, community preparedness and disaster response.
The project was implemented by UNDP, UN-Habitat, Habitat for Humanity and the Malawi University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with DoDMA and participating city councils, with funding from the European Union through the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO).
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