Youth and Children at the Centre of Disaster Preparedness – Malawi Case Study

Malawi has endured relentless floods, cyclones, and droughts in recent years. Cyclone Freddy in 2023 alone left an estimated 130,000 people in need of humanitarian aid in the south of the country. Youth and children are often the hardest hit. In Neno district, most learners study under trees, which highly exposes them to strong winds and extreme temperatures. Despite being the most impacted by climate-related hazards, youth and children have been largely excluded from disaster preparedness efforts, leaving them without access to timely early warnings or tools to protect themselves.