How can we improve the use of information for a climate-resilient Malawi?
This is the question that guest speakers grappled with in ‘Malawi’s Climate & Hydrological Futures’, an hour-long
webinar hosted on 7 July 2020.
Chaired by Professor Andy Dougill, AFRICAP Malawi country coordinator, the webinar shared key Malawi-specific findings from the Future Climate for Africa UMFULA project, which Dougill leads as project co-Investigator.
Guest speakers included three researchers who worked in depth on the UMFULA project, namely, Ajay Bhave who works on water resource management and climate change adaptation; Emmanuel Likoya, an environmental scientist specialising in climate change impacts on hydrological and agroecological systems; and Neha Mittal, an interdisciplinary environmental researcher focusing on climate services and climate impacts analysis.
Together, the three presenters led a discussion of the UMFULA project, sharing key results emerging from decision making under uncertainty approaches that combine stakeholder engagement with water resources modelling. The main aim was to explore future risks and the ability of risk management options to support resilient decision making in Malawi. Speakers also shared insights from engagement with stakeholders across the tea sector in Malawi on generation of site-specific future climate information that could help in selecting appropriate adaptation strategies.
The session closed with a Q&A with guest speakers and discussant David Mkwambisi, Malawi University of Science & Technology, Head of the Centre for Innovation & Industrial Research & Malawi Co-ordinator for FCFA UMFULA project.
Guest Speakers
Ajay Bhave, Newcastle University
Ajay works on water resources management and climate change adaptation. His research interests lie in exploring the different uncertain dimensions that affect water resources availability and demand, including climatic and socio-economic futures. He led water resource studies in Malawi for the UMFULA project, exploring water futures by combining complementary research methods, including water resources modelling, stakeholder engagement and decision making under uncertainty approaches.
Emmanuel Likoya, University of Leeds
Emmanuel is an environmental scientist specialising in hydroclimatological research, specifically climate change impacts on hydrological and agroecological systems. His MSc project research (at UCT supported by the FCFA UMFULA project) focused on the attribution of the risk of extreme events (floods) to climate change in the context of changing land use and cover in the Shire River basin.
Neha Mittal, University of Leeds
Neha is an interdisciplinary environmental researcher focusing on climate services and climate impacts analysis. Her work uses multi-disciplinary methods including participatory approaches and climate data analysis to help build a more holistic understanding of potential future climate change. Neha led the analysis for the CI4Tea project and is now working on a NERC SHEAR project on ‘Improving Preparedness to Agro-Climatic Extremes in Malawi’.
Watch the webinar recording to learn more
Watch the full webinar recording below, and visit the AFRICAP YouTube channel for more knowledge sharing seminars on African food systems, resilience and climate change.