ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MALAWI NATIONAL FLOOD EARLY WARNING SYSTEM IN MITIGATING FLOOD RISK IN VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. A CASE STUDY OF CHIKWAWA, T/A MASEYA

Floods have major devastating impacts on lives, livelihoods and properties of people worldwide. Malawi, one of the countries in the Sub Saharan Africa experiences huge losses due to flood disasters almost annually. However, in attempt to alleviate the adverse impacts of flood disasters in vulnerable communities, Malawi government established a National Flood Early Warning System (MN-FEWS) in 2015. But only few comprehensive papers on the performance of flood EWS in areas where floods occur frequently in Africa existed. This study assessed the effectiveness of MN-FEWS in mitigating flood risk in vulnerable communities specifically T/A Maseya. The study employed a mixed research method where data was collected qualitatively using a questionnaire and it was analyzed quantitatively using SPSS and excel. The MN-FEWS was assessed based on awareness of people, dissemination channels, reliability of the system and the responses of people. The study revealed strengths and weaknesses of the N-FEWS in mitigating flood risk in vulnerable communities which includes gaps in system awareness, issues of reliability including issues of false and missed alarms, short lead time, and varying response rates and actions among the population. The study included recommendations for improving the systems effectiveness which are enhancing public awareness, strengthening communication and dissemination channels and promoting innovative early warning methods.

However, in attempt to alleviate the adverse impacts of flood disasters in vulnerable communities, Malawi government established a National Flood Early Warning System (MN-FEWS) in 2015. But only few comprehensive papers on the performance of flood EWS in areas where floods occur frequently in Africa existed. The study revealed strengths and weaknesses of the N-FEWS in mitigating flood risk in vulnerable communities which includes gaps in system awareness, issues of reliability including issues of false and missed alarms, short lead time, and varying response rates and actions among the population. Floods, Mitigation, Early Warning System, Flood early warning system, Vulnerable communities

The main area of the study was T/A Maseya, found in Chikwawa district which is located in the southern regional of Malawi along the lower shire valley. The district covers an area of 4,755 km2 with a projected population of 628,282 where 306,517 are males and 321,765 are female (NSO, 2023). The total population of people in T/A Maseya based on the findings from the chair of area civil protection committee (ACPC) was 58 764 in 4691 households. T/A Maseya has 24 group village heads and villages approximate to 119 but 4 group villages (Kalima, DalakaPhiri, Chambuluka and Mtondedza) are the ones which faces the risk of flood hazards due to the presents of Shire, Mwanza and Unthumba rivers, so the study focused on those group villages.

Traditional authority: TA Maseya

District: Chikwawa

Coordinates: -16.08895, 34.85075