by Charles Mkoka

LILONGWE, Malawi – A delegation of the Africa Risk Capacity, an African Union arm within Sovereign Disaster Risk Solution earlier this month interfaced with various climate players in Malawi from both government and civil society, to share insights about various products the institution is capable of offering as part of weather insurance to build climate resilience. 

ARC is a specialized agency established to help governments improve their capacities to better plan, prepare, and respond to extreme weather events and natural disasters.

Newly appointed Director General Ibrahima Cheikh Diong stressed that as ARC they ensure to align their products to national policies and strategies such as the Malawi National Disaster Risk Financing Strategy to what the local context demands.

The new broom at ARC, also cleared the mist that services they offer are affordable, accessible, available and believe in transparency and good governance in the executing of their duties. 

According to Diong ARC makes sure that whatever cash transfer they are making they benefit the people on the ground. This is achieved through a monitoring and evaluation process that follows the money to ensure it gets to the right beneficiaries. Diong explained when he took the podium at Wamkulu Palace in Lilongwe.

“As ARC, we ensure we understand the policy framework about disaster risks in Malawi, resource mobilisation and awareness among many other things,” he said adding. “We are also interested in issues to do with women and youth who are the most vulnerable when such climate disasters strike.”

Taking his turn CISONECC National Coordinator, Julius Ngo’ma speaking on behalf of non-state actors under the banner of the Multi-Actor Partnership (MAP) established in 2020. Ngo’ma said the MAP brings together civil society, policy makers, private sector, researchers and the media to jointly work on pro-poor and human-right based approaches to climate and disaster risk financing and insurance.

“MAP also intends to allow Malawian stakeholders to bring grassroot and national perspective into regional and global processes such as ARC for instance,” Ngoma explained during the engagement ceremony.

According to Ngo’ma 2015 – 2016 weather insurance Malawi arrange with ARC turned to be a learning ground for the country.  The non-trigger of a pay-out, when the country had experienced a drought made a lot of stakeholders to lose trust in ARC initiative.

The ARC visiting delegation was briefed that the non-trigger of a pay-out, when the country had experienced a drought of immense magnitude made a lot of stakeholders to lose trust in ARC initiative towards disaster recovery and response.

“The late trigger of the pay-out resulted in the Malawian government struggling to mobilize resources to start implementation of the humanitarian response program,” Ng’oma added during his presentation.

MAP Co-chair Jolam Nkhokwe, who is also Director of Climate Change and Meteorological Services asked if ARC had any plans of capacitating the media on issues to do with weather insurance including awareness raising.

MAP as a non-state actor technical grouping foster sharing of experience and knowledge thereby enhancing stakeholder capacities in climate financing and insurance. Furthermore, they increase accountability of actors involved in the implementation of climate insurance initiatives.

CM/Agenda2063 Media Network