Limited understanding of disaster risks is among the factors that increase people’s vulnerable to the impacts of climate-related hazards. In 2025, YONECO, with support from Foundation S, trained the members of Gumba Village Disaster Risk Management Committee (VDRMC) in Machinga in disaster risk reduction and community-based hazard mapping.
Recognizing the importance of a hazard mapping, the VDRMC members used the knowledge and skills they acquired during the training to guide the process of developing a disaster risk map for the area. The committee members surveyed their locality and ably mapped out flood-prone and other high-risk areas. The map proved to be an invaluable tool as it served as a tool for raising awareness and decision-making resource.
The VDRMC utilized the map to sensitize communities on areas that were highly susceptible to flooding and other shocks. Farmers from the area were also engaged using the map as a resource to avoid cultivating crops in the identified flood-prone fields.
Mposa area experienced some severe flooding during the 2025/2026 rainy season. As expected, the community members took heed of the advice avoided losing their investments. Likewise, the households that were encouraged to avoid building infrastructures in high-risk places and others that relocated to safer areas saved their property, money and even lives as the identified disaster-prone places were heavily hit by the floods.
In his remarks, the chairperson of the Gumba VDRMC explained that the training transformed the committee’s approach to disaster preparedness. The chairperson described the hard map as a one of the most important tools for protecting lives and livelihoods.
“Previously, we were only good at responding to disasters. Now we are able to identify high-risk areas and properly advise or fellow community members before disasters strike.,” stated Gumba VDRMC chairperson.
The Chairperson added that map has also been helping the committee to effectively engage local leaders and community members in making informed decisions on land use, settlement and farming.
“Community members are now realizing that avoiding disaster-prone areas is not a loss but an investment in their future. Our fellow community members are now taking our advice seriously because they witnessed the benefits during the last rainy season,” added the chairperson.
Thus, producing more food is key in dealing with issues of malnutrition that have nee a key feature in communities around the area of TA Mposa due to perennial shocks that are being exacerbated by the impact of climate change.
This is one of the positive impacts of Making Communities Resilient to Climate-Induced Health Challenges Project. The project is being implemented by YONECO in the areas of T/A Mposa and Mwambo in Machinga and Zomba districts respectively, with support from Foundation S
