Malawi has called for stronger disaster management systems and increased investment in disaster risk reduction, urging African countries and development partners to prioritise preparedness and prevention to protect communities from the impact of disasters.
Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Justin Saidi, made the call during the International Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in Africa, held in Maputo, Mozambique, from 13 to 15 October 2026.
Saidi said African countries needed to move away from approaches that focus mainly on responding to disasters after they occur and instead invest in measures that anticipate and reduce risks before they escalate.
“Strengthening disaster risk management governance and institutional efficiency is key to moving from reactive disaster management to proactive approaches that anticipate, prepare for and reduce risks before they escalate,” said Saidi.
He cited Cyclone Freddy in 2023 and the El Niño-induced drought of 2023–2024 as examples of disasters that exposed the need for stronger governance, coordinated institutions and evidence-based decision-making.
Saidi said such experiences demonstrated the importance of investing in systems that could protect lives, livelihoods and development gains against the growing threat of disasters.
During the conference, Malawi also outlined its efforts to strengthen disaster risk management through the Disaster Risk Management Act of 2023, the National Disaster Risk Management Policy of 2025 and the Disaster Risk Financing Strategy.
The country highlighted the importance of involving communities in disaster preparedness and response, as well as decentralising disaster risk management to ensure that interventions address risks at local level.
Malawi further pointed to innovative financing mechanisms, including the disaster risk management component under the reformed Constituency Development Fund, which supports community-level initiatives.
The conference, organised by the African Union Commission in collaboration with the Government of Mozambique and development partners, was held under the theme “Scaling Proactive Governance and Strategic Investment for Disaster Risk Reduction and a Resilient Africa.”
It brought together African leaders, policymakers, disaster risk management experts and development partners to discuss ways of strengthening collaboration and accelerating investment in disaster preparedness and resilience.
The meeting also provided a platform for countries to share experiences and identify practical approaches to reducing disaster risks and building more resilient communities across the continent.
