Transcript POVERTY AND ENVIRONMENT INTIATIVE ANNUAL MEETING

Government of Malawi
POVERTY AND
ENVIRONMENT INTIATIVE
ANNUAL MEETING,
th
13-14 MAY 2008,
Nairobi, Kenya
Structure
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Country Profile
Main Poverty-Environment Linkages
National Planning Process
Institutional Set-Up
Expectations of the PEI Programme
Country Profile
 Landlocked country
 Climate: Sub-tropical
 Total area: 118,480 sq. km; land(94,080 sq km); water
(24,400 sq.km)
 Neighbours: Zambia (west); Tanzania (north & northeast);
Mozambique (south, southeast & southwest)
 Population: About12 million; 85% in rural areas;
 Political system: Multi-party since 1994
 Poverty Head Count: 52.4% (IHS2, 2005)
 Economy: Agro-based (40% of GDP); engages 82% of the
popu.; aver agri growth 1970-2005: 4.35%; MGDS target:
6%; aver GDP growth 1996-2005: 3%; MGDS target: 6%;
GDP growth rate 2005/06: 7.9% & 06/07: 7.4%
 Natural resources: land, water, forests, fisheries, wildlife,
some mineral deposits e.g. limestone, uranium, coal, and
bauxite
Main Poverty-Environment Linkages
 Due to lack of alternative livelihood opportunities
the poor depend on natural resources e.g. depletion
of fish stocks, charcoal, poaching
 The poor mostly use wood fuel for cooking
(MW:89.9%; rural poor: 97.0%). Only 7.5% of the
population has access to electricity (MGDS Review,
2006/7)
 The high population growth rate (3.2%) and density
(112 per sq.km) exert pressure on land & other
natural resources, etc
 Low mean land holding size (fell from 1.53 ha/hh in
1968 to 0.80ha/hh in 2000); the poor: 0.23ha – low
productivity & food insecure - can hardly afford
chem. fert, low usage of organic fert, poor farming
practices, etc
Main Poverty-Environment Linkages
(cont’d)
 Emergence of squatter areas due to rising urban
migration in search for better opportunities – urban
growth rate MW: >6%; SA:1.2%; Govt addressing issue
 The poor use water from unsafe sources – unprotected
wells and springs – increasing incidences of water borne
diseases
 High incidence of poverty has placed health facilities
under pressure, as they provide free services
 Poor farming practices are worsening soil erosion
reducing agricultural productivity and incomes
 Deforestation is causing siltation in Shire River and
hydroelectricity generation is below potential; ESCOM
spending heavily on dredging
National Planning Processes
National Development Strategy
 long term plan – Vision 2020
 MGDS
Key Entry Points
 MGDS Annual Reviews – integrate ES
 ADP – assess thorough integration ES & develop M&E
& align to National M&E
 Support the committee overseeing coordination in
formulating & implementation of policies & programmes
– composed of OPC, MEPD, MoF, MoJ
 Climate change and linkage with environment
Planning Linkage
 sectors plan and budget and submit to central budget
department
 Planning and budgeting not fully devolved to the
districts
National Planning Process (cont’d)
Budget
 Environment and natural resources budget is usually
inadequate.
Example: In 2006/07 Fiscal year, Environment
Protection got only 9% and 26% of the budgeted
resources for recurrent and development
expenditures respectively (MGDS Review
2006/07).
 However, for the sector to implement and
coordinate activities, budget allocation to the
sector should be increased
Institutional Set-Up
1 - Institutions
Central Level:
 Cabinet Committee on Agri & Nat Resources-policy
guidance
 Parliamentary Committee on Agri & Nat Resources –
legislation and lobbying environment issues
National Level:
 National Council on Environment – a group of PSs,
Managers and
 PS Committee on envir, natu res & climate change
 Technical Committee – composed of Directors, technical
experts
District Level:
 District Assembly – composed of the District
Commissioner/Chief Executive and
Councillors/politicians
Institutional Set-Up (cont’d)
 District Executive Committee (DEC)
 District Environment Sub-committee – composed of
technical experts & advises the DEC
Community Level:
 NRM committees established
 Community empowerment in project identification,
monitoring
2 - Planning and Budgeting
 Line ministries and departments - plan and budget on
their own
 District assemblies – planned and budgeted at the
centre (financial powers not fully devolved)
Institutional Set-Up (cont’d)
Other institutions involved:
 NGOs, Wildlife & Environment Society of Malawi,
Coordination Unit for Rehabilitation of Environment,
Malawi Environment Endowment Trust
 Journalists -Malawi Journalist Network Conservation
Trust, Coordination of Journalists on Environment
and Agriculture, Forum for Environment
Communication
 Lawyers – Green Wigs
 University programmes – BSc and MSc
 School Clubs
 Regional and/or International Organizations – UNDP,
UNDP, UNIDO, World Bank, JICA, EU, DANIDA
Expectations for the PEI programme
 Stimulate more commitment on envir issues – address
incongruence of policies, low funding & inadequate
capacities
 Improved policy implementation, coordination and
harmonisation
 Analysis on economic benefits of ENR conservation vs
economic costs of ENR degradation
 Support the preparation of NSER – the last was in
2002
 Support the MEPD and Envir Affairs Depart including
National Council on Envir to improve policy and
programme coordination
 Development of clear indicators for comprehensive &
effective M&E
 Strengthen NGO and Civil Society coordinating
structures - for improved advocacy and community
outreach on environmental
ZIKOMO