Events

Chiefs play a pivotal role in the stewardship of forests and natural resources in Malawi. Recognizing their indispensable leadership in natural resource governance, Malawi has integrated chiefs as vital stakeholders within its technical and governance frameworks, as evident in policy documents and strategies outlined by its Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change.

Further driven by this understanding, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, along with collaborative partners including the USAID-funded AFIDEP-led BUILD project, has orchestrated a chief’s forum. The forum, titled “First National Chiefs Forum on Integrated Natural Resources Management and Transition to Sustainable Agriculture and Livelihoods in Malawi”, has a primary aim of elevating chiefs’ participation and leadership in the conservation and sustainable use of land, forests, and natural resources.

The overarching objective of the forum is to delineate the roles and responsibilities of chiefs across Malawi and construct a collaborative framework to enhance the governance of natural resources, while providing sustainable livelihoods that take into account the health of the population and the overall development of the country. This collective effort is anticipated to fortify and elevate local structures, as encapsulated in a “Call to Action.” Chiefs and District Commissioners are expected to embrace this call upon the forum’s conclusion.

His Excellency, Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi is the guest of honour for the event, which will be held under the theme “Improving governance for effective conservation and restoration of natural resources, sustainable agriculture and livelihoods in Malawi”.

The two-day event will be held on 30th and 31st August 2023 at Sunbird Capital Hotel and National Botanical Gardens, respectively.

The event will be streamed live:
Day 1 on Zoom. Register here: https://bit.ly/3sugFCL
Day 2 via the channels of Malawi Broadcasting Corporation.

The BUILD project will also engage selected chiefs who are champions and stewards in their districts on population, health, environment and sustainable development for a half-day workshop on 1 September. The workshops aims to facilitate a better understanding of the interlinkages between population dynamics, family planning, reproductive health, climate change, and natural resource use.