CSOs Knowledge Exchange Workshop

CISONECC through the More action for just initiative (MAJI) Project organized a one day knowledge exchange workshop for CSOs working in livelihood and resilience programs. The workshop aimed at sharing experiences and lesson learnt in climate change programs for better programming, up scaling and duplication. The workshop was held on 23rd March 2017 at Riverside Hotel in Lilongwe. The workshop was attended by MAJI partners and CISONECC members

Third Ordinary General Assembly (OGA) and African CSOs’ Regional Consultative Forum on Post Marrakech and the Implementation of the Paris Agreement

CISONECC attended the third OGA and CSOs’ Regional Consultations from 19th to 21st April 2017 in Uganda. The third Ordinary General Assembly presents an opportunity for the Alliance members to evaluate themselves for the past years and chart a common way forward especially in the light of its 2016-2020 Strategic Plan. The meeting was, thus, be a moment of reflection, analysis and transition to a new world order defined by the urge to embrace models of development that will lead us to the low-carbon, climate resilient economies.
On the other hand, the African CSOs’ Regional Consultations builds on regular Pan Africa Climate Justice Alliance’s convenings, and particularly the side-events conducted jointly with other partners during the 28th Session of the African Union Heads of State and Government in Addis. The workshop familiarized the civil society with the Bonn Climate Change Conference agenda, and equipped them with knowledge on the latest developments in the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Find here the report

CBA 11 Registration

CISONECC was part of the 11th International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation (CBA11) to climate change which took place in Kampala, Uganda from 26-29 June 2017. This year's conference theme intended to highlight the benefits and challenges of harnessing natural resources and ecosystems for adaptation. Community-based adaptation to climate change (CBA) focuses on empowering communities to use their own knowledge and decision-making processes to take action on climate change.
Bonn Climate Change Conference - May 2017

CISONECC attended the Bonn Climate Change Conference, organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change which took place in Bonn, Germany 8th May to 18th May 2017. The conference covered the following areas; Climate Changes, Green house effects, stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, green urban. Clean Energy, nature's Role.

Interface Meeting with Parliamentary Committee ARC and mid-year Budget expenditure Report

CISONECC in collaboration with CARE Malawi organised an interface meeting between the Civil Society, Government Ministries and Departments and Members of Parliament under the parliamentary committee on Natural Resources and Environment and officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources Energy and Mining in the evening of 22nd May, 2017 at Lilongwe Hotel in Lilongwe.
The meeting aimed at sharing and discussing the results of the ARC study report that CARE Malawi conducted to explore the possible role of climate risk insurance in general and the African Risk Capacity (ARC). The meeting was also aimed at sharing and discussing the findings of a review of the 2016/2017 national budget mid-year budget that CISONECC conducted in order to guide its work in lobbying for adequate budgetary allocations of climate change and disaster risk management interventions. Download the full workshop report, ARC report and the Mid-year analysis report here

World Environment Day June 5th 2017

The 2017 World Environment Day was organized by National Cook stove Steering Committee, with renewable energy as a working theme. The commemoration which focused on cleaner cooking took place event at Bingu National Stadium.

NAP M&E Training Workshop and Press Briefing on the NAP Process

CISONECC with support from Southern Voices conducted a one-day Training workshop on Monitoring and Evaluation of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) on 1st June, 2017 at Ufulu Gardens, Lilongwe. The aim of the training was to provide non-sate actors with the relevant skills to effectively monitor the NAP Process in the country. Alongside the training a Press Briefing on the status of the said Malawi NAP Process was conducted. The Press briefing was organized to inform stakeholders to ensure participatory and inclusive formulation, implementation and monitoring of the NAP Process in the country.

Consolidated Vulnerability Assessment Study Report

The Secretariat commissioned an assignment to update the Comprehensive Vulnerability Assessment Report for communities in its members' impact areas. In a bid to enhance understanding of context specific climate related vulnerabilities among member organisations for effective participation in national adaptation planning, CISONECC consolidated the Vulnerability Assessments for member organizations in 2015. The update was intended to inform relevant, up-to-date advocacy work.

Press Release on the National Meteorological Policy

The Government of Malawi in 2014 started the development a draft National Meteorological Policy to serve as an overarching reference document for the generation, provision of climate change, meteorological services and products for various users. However, the policy is yet to be adopted by Government since commencement of the drafting in 2014. This delay creates policy vacuum, which compromises development of the country since the national Meteorological Policy seeks to put in place appropriate strategies, legal and institutional framework for provision of weather and climate and climate change services needed to guide action in various sectors of the economy. The Press release was published in the Nation Newspaper.

Press release on Disaster Risk Management Plans for Cities

Following the floods that occurred in the Capital City, Lilongwe, early this year, CISONECC in its mandate to influence policy processes released a press statement to express sadness and appeal to government to expedite processes of formulating Disaster Risk Management plans for cities and enforce laws regarding urban development. The process of developing DRM for cities has been underway since 2015. The delay furthers the vulnerability, exposure and risk of urban communities to occurrences of disasters.

National Stakeholders on GCF state of play report

CISONECC in collaboration with CARE International- Malawi, CARE DL and German Watch are implementing a project called ‘‘CSOs Readiness to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) – Focus Africa’’. The project is aimed at increasing CSOs involvement and engagement in GCF related processes. In order to understand GCF processes and the current situation in Malawi, CISONECC and its implementing partners conducted an assessment of the Malawi GCF state of play which will constitute a baseline for understanding the current situation in Malawi.
In this regard organized CISONECC and CARE organized a validation workshop which was held on 13th July 2017 at Silversands Hotel in Salima. The workshop aimed at sharing and discussing the findings of the assessment of the GCF state of play Report. The workshop was organized in a way that participants get the broader understanding of the Malawian GCF Project and its processes before presenting findings for the GCF state of play. The meeting was attended By Government officials, Development partners, Academia, Civil Society Organizations and Media.

Strategic Plan, Advocacy Strategy and Consolidated Vulnerability Assessments Validation Workshop

To promote a community of practice for effective climate change and disaster risk management initiatives among stakeholders CISONECC held a Validation workshop to share and learn lessons, experiences and disseminate findings from the secretariat and Network members on climate change thematic areas. Knowledge exchange forums are pivotal in building the capacity of stakeholders involved in planning and implementing climate change adaptation interventions and gathering evidence to influence policy processes.

Extra Ordinary General Assembly

CISONECC held it’s first ever Extra-Ordinary General Meeting as recommended by members during the December, 2016 AGM. The meeting was held on Friday 14th July, 2017 at Silver Sands Hotel, Salima. The EGM aimed at discussing the outstanding agenda items of the previous AGM which included the financial audited report and the 2017 action plan.

CSOs dialogue meeting on Malawi position to COP23

CISONECC in collaboration with Oxfam organised a workshop, which brought together CSOs from the network and beyond to discuss and input into the country’s position paper in readiness for the 23rd Conference of Parties scheduled for 6-17th November in Bonn, Germany. Malawi’s key priority areas include: matters relating to implementation of the Paris Agreement, features of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), accounting of climate finance, transparency of action and support, technology development, diffusion and transfer, National Adaptation Plans, issues related to agriculture and REDD+ among others.

Participatory Scenario Planning Workshop

Under the 5-year Resource Rights Programme CISONECC conducted a Participatory Scenario Planning (PSP)training workshop for its project partners viz CADECOM Zomba, Dedza and Mangochi; and CICOD. The workshop was intended to create space for sharing climate information from both local and scientific knowledge, discussing and appreciating the value of the two sources and finding ways to interpret the information into a form that is locally relevant and useful. It was envisioned that the knowledge gained would be integrated into the RRP to contribute to resilience building for project target population; the poor subsistence farmer.

Live panel discussion on renewable energy

CISONECC, Oxfam and Christian Aid organized a live panel discussion on renewable energy regulations, standards and adoption in Malawi. The discussion had the following aims:

• Raise public awareness on the existing renewable energy regulations and standards by providing a contextual analysis of the gaps and opportunities therein to address renewable energy challenges.
• Discuss some of the challenges related to to enforcement of these regulations and technical standards on renewable energy technologies.
• Propose solutions related to existing challenges on availability, access and adoption of renewable energy technologies in Malawi.
• The panellist were drawn from Panelist drawn from Government, Regulatory bodies, Private Sector, Civil Society Organization and community members.

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Overview of CISONECC

CISONECC is network organization for coordinating civil society initiatives for climate change management and disaster risk reduction. Established in 2008 and registered with the government of Malawi under the Trustees Incorporation Act and CONGOMA as a Non Governmental Organization, CISONECC exists to facilitate collaboration and provide policy positions to relevant stakeholders including government and policy makers on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (CCAM) and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) in the country. CISONECC's work hinges on ADVOCACY through collective engagement with duty bearers, individual-member lobbying activities, solidarity work with other CSOs networks and special model projects.

Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) exists to facilitate collaboration and provide policy positions to relevant stakeholders including government and policy makers on Climate Change management and Disaster Risk Management in the country. The network was established in 2008 and it is registered with the government of Malawi under the Trustees Incorporation Act and CONGOMA as a Non Governmental Organization. Key procedures and management issues for the network are as follows;

Organizational Management

CISONECC has a Board of Trustees with legal responsibility for policy formulation, decision making and providing oversight duties over management and administration affairs. The network has a Secretariat with legal mandate to execute the decisions of the Board of Trustees and undertake the day to day management of CISONECC affairs . Over the years since its establishment in 2008, CISONECC's Secretariat is now established with rented offices in Lilongwe. This development necessitates a review of CISONECC's Code of Conduct and Operational Guidelines especially section 9.0 which stipulate minimum requirements for any member organization to host CISONECC Secretariat.

Organizational Membership

CISONECC is a network of members with a membership of 56 as of June 2017 . This comprises Local Non Governmental Organizations (LNGOs), International Non Governmental Organizations (INGOs), and Faith Based Organizations (FBOs), Networks and Associations. These are autonomous organizations with aspirations related to climate change and disaster risk reduction. As members, they have a unified responsibility to contribute to the achievement of CISONECC objectives through collaborative efforts keeping with the ethos of the network.

Vision Statement

A coordinated approach to building climate change resilient communities and ecosystems in Malawi

Vision Statement

To coordinate civil society organisations and influence a desired change in climate change and disaster risk management-related policies, practices and attitudes through research, advocacy, model projects, networking and capacity building.

Objectives

• a) To promote and facilitate research and document progress, capture the impact of different intervention measures and foster shared learning from climate change interventions in Malawi;
• b) To enhance the capacity of civil society organizations to lobby and advocate for the management of climate change and its impacts in Malawi and at regional and international level;
• c) To build the capacity of civil society organizations, community based organizations and communities on management of the impacts of climate change and variability;
• d) To promote and facilitate measures for alleviating suffering due to climate change and build resilient communities;
• e) To promote collaboration with likeminded institutions at national, regional and international levels in order to enhance understanding and promote effective response to climate change impacts;
• f) To mobilize adequate resources (human, financial) for network activities and other activities that may require network intervention.