The Government of Japan has committed approximately $3.8 million under the Japan Supplementary Budget to contribute to Malawi’s zero-emissions and climate resilient development pathway for the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the energy, agriculture, and land use sectors. NDCs are pledges and actions that Malawi has planned to undertake in addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation until 2040 in various sectors of the economy.

The support is in line with Malawi’s aspirations to build community resilience through climate adaptation and the implementation of mitigation actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and promote a greener economy and sustainable development.

Malawi has committed to take urgent mitigation and adaptation actions in line with the Paris Agreement and prioritizes actions in energy, agriculture, land use, forestry, waste, and industry to attain the goal of 51% reduction in emissions by 2040. This project will therefore promote access to renewable energy, clean energy technologies, ecosystem and forestry restoration, and bamboo for sustainable charcoal in six disaster prone districts hence reducing high dependency on biomass and overall GHG emissions.

The Scaling up NDC Actions in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, a one-year project commencing in 2022, will be implemented by UNDP in collaboration with the Environmental Affairs Department (EAD) within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change. Other main implementing partners are the Ministry of Energy and the district councils of Dowa, Kasungu, Nkhotakota, Ntchisi, Machinga and Zomba.

Director in the Environmental Affairs Department Ms. Tawonga Mbale-Luka commended UNDP and the Japanese Government for the timely partnership to accelerate the implementation of the NDCs, which reflects the Government’s commitment in domesticating the Paris Agreement.

Speaking on the support, UNDP Malawi Resident Representative Mr. Shigeki Komatsubara said, “UNDP works closely with the Government of Malawi and other partners to contribute to Malawi’s sustainable environmental management as highlighted in the MW2063 and explore nature-based solutions that adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change and prevents the environmental degradation.”

In his comments, Japanese Ambassador to Malawi His Excellency Satoshi Iwakiri, said “Japan is pleased to partner with the Malawi Government, UNDP and various stakeholders to address the impact of climate change in Malawi, which is one of the most climate-affected countries but also one of the least contributing countries to the cause of climate change. I therefore encourage every institution taking a role in this project to effectively implement the project for the development of Malawi”. 

At COP26, UNDP launched the next phase of the Climate Promise - From Pledge to Impact - scaling up its support to turn NDC targets into concrete action in at least 100 countries. Japan becomes the largest supporter of this phase of the pioneering and groundbreaking initiative and joins the longstanding funding partners Germany, Sweden, EU, Spain, and Italy, as well as the new funding partners such as the UK, Belgium, Iceland, and Portugal to accelerate these efforts.

##

ENQUIRIES

For further information please contact; UNDP Communications: comms.support.mw@undp.org.