Mainstreaming the environment in Malawi’s development:
Research Report
Mainstreaming the environment in Malawi’s development:: experience and next steps
Steve Bass
James L.L. Banda
Sosten Chiotha
Joseph Kalowekamo
Themba Kalua
Daisy Kambalame-Kalima
Boyd Hamella
Michael Mmangisa
Gibson Mphepo
Nyuma Mughogho
Dennis Mulebe
Friday Njaya
Elliot Phiri
Benon Yassin
Gil Yaron
Copyright Date: Jan. 1, 2011
Published by: International Institute for Environment and Development
Pages: 88
OPEN ACCESS
https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep01321
Table of Contents
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  1. Front Matter
    Front Matter (pp. 1-2)
  2. Table of Contents
    Table of Contents (pp. 3-3)
  3. Preface
    Preface (pp. 4-4)
  4. Acknowledgements
    Acknowledgements (pp. 5-6)
  5. Acronyms
    Acronyms (pp. 7-7)
  6. Summary
    Summary (pp. 8-12)
  7. [1] Introduction and overview
    [1] Introduction and overview (pp. 13-19)

    The Ministry of Development Planning and Cooperation (MDPC) recognises the need to ensure that Malawi’s productive environmental assets are used to support equitable wealth creation in a poor country but also that the development paths taken do not end up damaging those same environmental assets. To balance these twin needs requires the ‘mainstreaming’ of environmental considerations into key development decisions and institutions, so that environment is truly integral and indivisible in the resulting outcomes.¹

    Mainstreaming is no easy task, however, since environment and development institutions operate very separately. In effect, mainstreaming is a process of institutional change. As such, it...

  8. [2] Mainstreaming at the heart of government: central policy, planning and finance
    [2] Mainstreaming at the heart of government: central policy, planning and finance (pp. 20-37)

    If mainstreaming is required because environment and poverty reduction are dealt with in isolation by separate institutions, and if government is the main body that determines the overall institutional framework, it is not surprising that the major mainstreaming initiatives to date are linked to government. In cases A to C below, we look at government-led work to mainstream environment through: (A) government policy processes; (B) generation and use of environmental information; and (C) the deployment of environmental economics in decisions. Although notionally top-down, since Cabinet and senior government officials and experts are in the driving seat, each has elements that...

  9. [3] Mainstreaming from the ground up: partnerships with poor groups driven by local government, business and sector authorities
    [3] Mainstreaming from the ground up: partnerships with poor groups driven by local government, business and sector authorities (pp. 38-52)

    Chapter 2 focused on what have traditionally been considered to be the major means to mainstream environmental concerns: centralised and technocratic policy, planning, budgeting and information systems. Indeed, many donors and policymakers have assumed that these are the only means for integrating environment and development, with Poverty Reduction Strategies and other forms of national plan being particularly burdened with the task.

    Yet, as international experience shows, centralised and planned mainstreaming has not been as successful in environmental mainstreaming as its proponents assume. This is especially true when it is (a) projectised – expected to seamlessly link the separate worlds of...

  10. [4] Mainstreaming through linking knowledge: mobilising science and local tradition
    [4] Mainstreaming through linking knowledge: mobilising science and local tradition (pp. 53-73)

    For decades, Malawian farmers have practiced small-scale maize-based cropping with annual ridge tillage, often on the same land for long periods. Conventionally, land is prepared with hoes, where ridges are remade every season and where plant residues are covered with inverted soil, or removed, or burnt. The growth of all vegetation except for the desired crop is prevented. (Materechera and Mloza Banda, 1999).

    While this form of agriculture has continued to play a central role the livelihoods and economic development of the country, it has had varying levels of success and looks to be less resilient for the future. Indeed,...

  11. [5] A stock-take – success factors in mainstreaming, remaining constraints, and opportunities
    [5] A stock-take – success factors in mainstreaming, remaining constraints, and opportunities (pp. 74-79)

    The poverty/environment mainstreaming initiatives assessed in Chapters 2 to 4 are highly diverse. They are based variously on central government approaches, a range of partnerships with local communities and a mix of scientific, technological and local knowledge. There appear to be some common success factors in tackling poverty/environment issues, however. Eight can be identified. They might usefully be incorporated into the principles governing the work of PEI and other initiatives that intend to integrate environment and poverty reduction. Many of these lessons of success may also apply beyond Malawi’s borders:

    1. Understanding of poverty as multifaceted: Together, the case studies demonstrate...

  12. [6] Recommendations
    [6] Recommendations (pp. 80-83)

    Malawi has more experience of integrating the twin endeavours of poverty reduction and environmental management than was immediately apparent before this review. To reiterate, environmental mainstreaming is a matter of long-term institutional change rather than a single technical project to tweak development plans. As such, effective mainstreaming will include a number of dimensions: from top-down to bottom-up; from reinforcing traditional practice to introducing new technology; from changing expenditure priorities to finding new investment. The Government of Malawi has recently introduced what has been missing – a ‘poverty/environment mainstreaming project’ in the form of PEI. The difference now is that we...

  13. Back Matter
    Back Matter (pp. 84-86)