IMPROVED COMMUNITY RESILIENCE THROUGH INCREASED WATER SUPPLY By Mtisunge Mngoli (Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy)

INTRODUCTION Water is the most important resource, since everything depends on water water is facing a lot of obstacles due to climate change and human activity, and the rate of replenishment is very low. Malawi is documented as a water-stressed country and may be water scarce if nothing is done to mitigate the looming crisis climate change is making Malawi increasingly vulnerable to problems such as frequent dry spells, droughts or erratic rainfall leading to low production of crops, livestock and hydropower

INTRODUCTION Objectives In a bid to increase availability and access to safe and potable water, CEPA in partnership with Christian aid & CARD is implementing a project “improved community resilience through increased water supply and food security” funded by the Scottish Government in Nsanje district Objectives increasing availability and access to safe and potable water for 1,500 households through rights-based, participatory and inclusive approaches to water resources increased participation of community and district structures in water and natural resource management

METHODOLOGY AND STUDY AREA The project is being implemented in Nsanje district in two Traditional Authorities (Chimombo and Mbenje). Methodology 2 Irrigation schemes Linking communities with duty bearers Linking communities with private sector service providers Lobbying for an IWRM Awareness on legal frameworks and messages on water resources management through (policy briefs, public debates, exchange visits, panel discussion, media interactions)

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Challenges Non-functional boreholes, limited financial resources for borehole maintenance, lack of constitution guiding the water committees, limited coordination among disciplines, & lack of integration of climate change issues into sectoral planning and budgeting processes. Women queuing at a borehole & Men cycling for more than 5km to access water in GVH Nsamba, Nsanje

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS linking the communities to the duty bearers and the private sectors communities are able to communicate their concerns and through these meetings the water committees were encouraged to be sourcing funds on their own for the maintenance of the boreholes, and able to access borehole equipment on credit. This will offer sustainability in the long-run even after the project phases out. Lobbying for an IWRM-It has been noted that there is limited knowledge on IWRM at district level Awareness campaigns are conducted through different channels policy briefs (The National Water Policy brief and The Supplement to the Forestry Policy brief) which are translated to Chichewa, panel discussions, radio programs, exchange visits, newspaper articles, documentaries, posters and public debates.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS A man and a woman reading the National Water Policy brief during an awareness meeting in Group Village Head Melo

CONCLUSION Linking of the communities to the duty bearers and the service providers has promoted a strong relationship among stakeholders in Nsanje district, which will help in managing the water resources at district level The IWRM approach will build a coordination relationship among sectors that will help in effective management of water resources. Awareness campaigns has broadened the understanding of climate change issues and its relationship with water resources, since the process of debate offers profound and lasting benefits for the communities. They help the communities to think critically communicate effectively practice team work and critically examine the issues at hand to make informed judgements. This has also helped to spread information even to those outside Nsanje through radio programs.

RECOMMENDATIONS Sensitize the communities in issues of water management There is need for harmonization of policies to effectively manage the water resources and incorporate the Integrated Water Resources Management Approach There is need for constant monitoring of the village action plans by the duty bearers

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We are very grateful for the financial support by the Scottish Government through Christian Aid. We thank our partners; (CARD), the people at district level in Nsanje District, the two Traditional Authorities (T/A Chimombo and T/A Mbenje) and the forty five (45) water committees for their cooperation in implementing the project activities and the Ministry of Agriculture, irrigation and Water Development in conjunction with Water Services Association of Malawi (WASAMA) for giving us an opportunity to present our work to a wider audience.

THANK YOU