By Jones Gadama
The Malawi government has sounded the alarm on the country’s escalating land degradation crisis, attributing it to poor land use and inadequate environmental conservation efforts. To combat this issue, Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Dr. Owen Chomanika, has emphasized the importance of creating green jobs for the country’s predominantly young population.
Speaking at the Malawi Green Corps Dissemination Workshop in Lilongwe, Dr. Chomanika highlighted the potential of youth-led initiatives in driving environmental conservation and promoting sustainable development.
The government, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has already seen promising results from empowering young people to take charge of land restoration efforts. Since 2022, 2,000 youths have successfully restored over 5,000 hectares of land with a $2 million investment.
This achievement demonstrates the impact that young people can have when given the opportunity to contribute to environmental conservation.
Dr. Chomanika’s call for breaking economic barriers that have traditionally favored individuals above 35 years old is a step towards unlocking innovative solutions for a greener and cleaner Malawi.
By providing policy direction and support for sustainable project implementation, the government aims to harness the energy and creativity of its youth population to drive positive change.
The UNDP’s support for youth-led initiatives in land restoration is part of its broader efforts to build climate resilience in Malawi.
In 2023, the Global Environment Facility approved $4.4 million in funding for a project aimed at reducing the impacts of climate change on vulnerable rural communities in the Lake Chilwa basin.
As Malawi continues to grapple with the challenges of land degradation and climate change, the government’s commitment to integrating environmental sustainability with economic development offers a glimmer of hope.
By empowering young people and promoting green job opportunities, Malawi can mitigate the impacts of climate change and ensure a more sustainable future for generations to come.
