MALAWI: ECM’s Catholic Development Commission Awarded for Climate Change Mitigation
Demetria Banda
Catholic Development Commission National Office of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has received Community Empowerment Award from Trocaire in recognition of its outstanding merits in the Climate Challenge Program Malawi (CCPM) being implemented in four districts of Balaka, Machinga, Zomba and Chikwawa.
In his speech during the award presentation, Program Manager for Trocaire, Conor Kelly said the award is a sign that CADECOM National Office has proven to be the most active institution in improving resilience to current and future climate change.
“Understanding of climate change issues is hard for most people and helping local groups to understand the act on climate change justice issues is harder still. However, CADECOM National Office, in close coordination with partners and through the use of interactive methodologies such as Theatre for Change has managed to do this and supported the CCPM to ensure that local communities themselves are addressing climate change issues and have the confidence to hold their duty bearers to account. This is a great example of the Community led and empowering principles that the programme has built,” said Kelly.
CADECOM’s Project Coordinator for CCPM Project Aaron Kandiwo Mtaya did not hide his excitement after receiving the award.
“As CADECOM National Office, we are very contented with this award as it is something that we were not expecting since we had several partners who were also working on community empowerment. This shows that we indeed did a good work and we will keep it up, “said Mtaya.
He further expressed gratitude to donors for their support towards the CCPM Project Implementation.
“We thank Trocaire, Scottish Government and SCIAF for the support they provided for the work to be as good as it has come out. We are asking for more of the same so that this should reach out to several communities for some people to also benefits from the interventions that we implemented in the communities from the four districts,” he added.
Climate Challenge Program Malawi (CCPM) project is aimed at improving resilience to current and future climate change by developing and implementing community-led adaptation strategies and measures that will improve agricultural production and rural livelihoods across the food-water-energy nexus. The project is being implemented in the four districts.
