Through partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University, The Mzuzu University and the University of Lwanda, LICO is participating in two research projects.
- Climate Change & COVID-19 (CCC19: Achieving a Sustainable and Equitable Recovery in Malawi and Rwanda)
Most of the responses to the COVID-19 pandemic are focused on the immediate needs of affected communities and populations and their swift economic recovery. In developing countries, where the effects of climate change are now made even worse by COVID-19, there is a lot of appetite for making this recovery sustainable and equitable. Specifically, we need to understand how COVID-19 has affected local people’s ability to withstand droughts, floods and sea-level rise and the prospects for adapting to and mitigating climate change in these communities. However, the data and knowledge on how to achieve this are lacking.
This research project invites local community members as well as practitioners from government, development, private sector and community-based organizations in Rwanda and Malawi – two countries simultaneously affected by the pandemic and climate change – to participate in interviews, focus groups and surveys on this topic. Participants from local communities are asked to produce video stories of their experiences of COVID-19 and climate change in order to put a human face on both crises and ensure local voices are heard at the highest levels of government in both countries. The findings of this research will inform the work of the Malawian and Rwandan ministries responsible for health, climate change and environment (key project partners). This can be achieved through a range of products and events, including reports, journal articles, a documentary, an interactive website and case-study leaflets. The project’s ultimate aim is to ensure that the way Malawi and Rwanda plan and carry out their recovery after COVID-19 is environmentally sustainable and socially equitable, so that it does not harm the climate or the most vulnerable people. This is why collaboration from government partners is crucial for the success of this project.
Partners
- Centre for Climate Justice, Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland – project lead
- University of Rwanda (including the Centre of Excellence in Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management)
- Rwanda Village Community Promoters
- Mzuzu University (Malawi)
- University of Livingstonia (Malawi)
- Life Concern (Malawi)
- Ministry of health (Malawi)
- Ministry of agriculture, Irrigation and natural resource (Malawi)
Location
Three districts in Northern Malawi (Mzuzu, Karonga and Rumphi).
- A Determination of the Inter-relationship between Gender-Based Violence, Mental Health and Climate Justice for Progressive Social Change in Malawi
Gender Based Violence (GBV) and mental health issues are often hidden behind the face of the physical devastation that is occurring as a result of climate change.
Across Malawi women play a vital role as subsistence farmers, yet their productivity is hindered by gender inequalities. Rural women´s participation in paid employment is hampered by a significant domestic work burden as most rural women dedicate more time to domestic (usually unpaid) activities than their male counterparts, which leaves them with less time to engage in productive employment and income generating activities. As such their voices and perspectives are undermined and silenced due to discriminatory gender roles, economic exploitation and exclusion from leadership. This is particularly the case in Northern Malawi where a patriarchal system exists and as such it is relatively uncommon to find women at GVH level.
In the face of climate change, this gendered inequality of rights, resources and power is expressed glaringly in stark differences in death rates and vulnerability to disasters, of women (and girls) in rural areas in Malawi. Climate change has worsened resource pressures, including water scarcity and land degradation, deepening tensions between communities and triggering violent conflict. This not only violates human rights but it also impedes development gains, as it undermines physical and mental health, prevents women from assuming leadership and decision-making roles, and impacts the economy through increased health expenditure and reduced productivity. Over all this threatens achievement of sustainable development.
Women though being on the frontlines of climate crisis are the driving force for the survival of their communities through the worst devastations to build resilience and strength amongst themselves. Therefore, by implication it is imperative that practical solutions are found to help rebuild lives, rebuild resilience and rebuild a future that is climate just.
Partners
- Centre for Climate Justice, Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland – project lead
- Mzuzu University (Malawi)
- Life Concern (Malawi)
- Ministry of health (Malawi)
- Ministry of gender, women, children and disability
- Ministry of Disaster management and risk reduction
Location
Rumphi district (Tcharo and Mzokoto communities)
