6 January 2016: In December 2015, specialists from Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe conducted a ten-day assessment of Malawi’s disaster risk reduction (DRR) policies and actions, launching a process that will conclude in the coming months with Africa’s first DRR peer review report.

In its efforts to implement the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, in Sendai, Japan, Malawi submitted to voluntary peer review to strengthen its disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk. Funded by the European Commission (EC), Malawi’s peer review process is supported by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).

In spite of Malawi’s newly-adopted Disaster Risk Management Policy and its current work on the Disaster Risk Management Bill, Bernard Sande, Malawi’s Secretary and Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs, identified the integration of DRR into developmental departments as a challenge. He indicated that the peer review process’ recommendations “will be key in making this happen and preventing a repeat of the devastating floods of 2015.”

The review team conducted consultations and interviews with key representatives of the Malawian Government, met with development partners working at national and local levels, consulted district officials in areas most seriously affected by the 2015 floods, and visited community sites where DRR projects are underway.

The final peer review report is expected to provide an assessment on how Malawi has fared on each of a series of objectives, and identify best practices, recommendations and lessons learnt. [UNISDR Press Release]