By Prince Henderson
Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM), a relief and development arm of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) of the Catholic Church in Malawi recently held a two day workshop in Salima where journalists drawn from various media houses in Malawi were sensitized on climate resilience policies which includes 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 when he opened the workshop, CADECOM’s National Secretary Carsterns Mulume said the workshop was aimed at equipping journalists with knowledge and information on the climate resilience policies so that the media is able to raise awareness and concerns to the public and stakeholders involved.
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 .
“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.
Presenting his paper, CADECOM’s National Programmes 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.
He said DRM therefore is a developmental issue for reducing socio-economic and environmental disaster losses for economic growth.
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 evidence in Malawi shows that the most serious ones have been prolonged dry spells, seasonal droughts, intense rainfall, riveline 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.
Human rights activist, Billy Mayaya also presented on the right to food bill which he said is aimed at providing for the protection of the Right to Food, establish the National Food Security Council and establishing the Food Security Fund.
Commenting on the workshop, 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