In 2013, Malawi Red Cross Society advocated to the Government of Malawi to take up a law mapping process to analyse its national legal framework for responding to disasters requiring international assistance. Using the IDRL Guidelines as a benchmark, Malawi Red Cross Society led an IDRL project alongside the Department of Disaster Management Affairs, bringing together key government entities and humanitarian actors in the country to review the national legal framework for international disaster response, focusing on the strengths, challenges and gaps. The final report, Legal Preparedness for Regulatory Issues in International Disaster Response, included key recommendations to have the Disaster Risk Management Bill clearly outline the role of Malawi Red Cross Society in disaster management as well as reflect the regulations that should guide the national authorities in requesting, vetting and accepting international humanitarian assistance for response and recovery efforts.
Engagement in Malawi continued in 2021 and 2022 under the Risk-informed Early Action Partnership (REAP), which brings together stakeholders across the climate, humanitarian and development communities with the aim of making 1 billion people safer from disaster by 2025. REAP Target 1 focuses on the necessity to better connect the complementary goals of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, with its goal being for 50 countries to have reviewed and integrated their disaster risk management and climate adaptation laws, policies, national frameworks for climate services and/or plans to ensure that they reduce climate change impacts and exposure on people and the environment.
In light of Tropical Storm Freddy impacting Malawi at the beginning of the 2023, an IDRL emergency fact sheet was developed to provide key information on the regulatory and policy environment that applies to tropical storm preparedness and response. Specifically targeted towards members of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, this document can support decision-making processes to optimise international disaster assistance.
Also in 2023, following sustained technical support from the Malawi Red Cross Society and IFRC Disaster Law, Malawi adopted its Disaster Risk Management Act in 2023, marking a significant milestone in strengthening the country’s legal framework for disaster risk management. The Act builds on earlier efforts to revise the DRM Bill and incorporates provisions on international disaster assistance, including procedures for requesting, receiving and regulating international support, as well as the obligations of international actors operating in-country.
Building on this progress, in 2026, IFRC Disaster Law will continue to support the implementation and operationalisation of the DRM Act. This includes awareness-raising sessions for national and sub-national government stakeholders, targeted briefings for private sector and civil society actors, and technical workshops to strengthen institutional understanding and practical application of the new legal framework. This will further support coordination, clarify institutional roles, and strengthen readiness to manage disaster response, including the facilitation of international assistance capacities.
