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| Group Photo of Workshop Participants |
Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM), a relief and development arm of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) recently held a two day workshop in Salima where journalists drawn from various media houses in Malawi were sensitized on climate resilience policies which include right to Food Bill, National Disaster Risk Management Policy and National Climate change.
The initiative falls under a three year Increasing Food Security and resilience to climate shocks project implemented with funding from UKAID through Trocaire.
Speaking at the beginning of the workshop, CADECOM's National Secretary Carsterns Mulume said the workshop aimed at equipping journalists with knowledge and information on the climate resilience policies so that media could play a better role of raising awareness and concerns to the public. "CADECOM has therefore organized a media awareness workshop that aims at providing awareness to various journalists/reporters so that they report extensively on the three policies so that policy gaps or issues are highlighted and push the policy makers to act on the same," he said.
He said CADECOM is working hand in hand with Civil Society Network on Climate change (CISANET) and Civil Society Agriculture Network (CISONECC) in advocating for enactment and implementation of climate resilience policies such as Right to Food Bill, National Disaster Risk Management Policy and National Climate change.
Presenting his paper, CADECOM's National Programme Coordinator Yusuf Mkungula said the Disaster Risk Management policy (DRM) seeks to create an enabling framework for the establishment of a comprehensive disaster risk management system for Malawi.
"DRM is linked to a number of development policies which among them include: National Social Support policy; Malawi Decentralization policy; Health policy; National HIV/AIDS Policy; Nutrition policy; Food security policy; Gender Policy; Child Protection policy; Education Policy; Elderly and Disability policy; National Sanitation Policy; National Housing Policy; National Environmental Policy; and Mining policy" said Mkungula.
On National Climate Change Policy, Mkungula said recently environment and Climate Change have emerged as major development issues that are severely impacting on people's livelihoods.
He said that as evident in Malawi, the most serious effects of climate change have been prolonged dry spells, seasonal droughts, intense rainfall, riverine floods and flash floods. "Some of these, especially droughts and floods, have increased in frequency, intensity and magnitude over the last two decades; and have adversely impacted on food and water security, water quality, energy and the sustainable livelihoods of rural communities" said Mkungula.
Nation Publication Limited's reporter, Ephraim Nyondo commended CADECOM for sharing with the media what is contained in the policies and the bill. He said this will help them write good stories that raise awareness and advocate for action both from government and other stakeholders.
Meanwhile Mkungula has commended the Government for approving the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Policy as this will provide a platform for effective implementation of Disaster Risk Management related programmes.
He has however, asked the Government to ensure that Right to Food Bill and National Climate change Policy which are in draft form to be urgently looked into and approve them since they are linked to the Disaster Risk Management Policy.
Apart from Nation Publication Limited other journalists were drawn from, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, Zodiak Broadcasting Station, Radio Maria, Times Group, Luntha Television and Radio Alinafe
By Prince Henderson-ECM Communications Officer