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This information is based on Malawi's submission to the 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: 1 April 1997
Click here to access UNCTAD's Country Profile on Malawi:
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No information is available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
As a member of CITES, the implementation of this Convention involves regulations and issuing of permits, and the ongoing training of nature conservators, the investigatory staff, and the staff of the import and export sections, which enforce the requirements of the international convention.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
Malawi has adopted a liberal trade and investment policy to stimulate economic development through invigorating private sector participation, to make domestic products competitive, and to diversify trade and generate employment.
International trade fairs have been attended and organised by Malawi, and these have served to highlight products and processes which contribute towards sustainable living and encourage investment. However, to date, few domestic policies have been formulated and put in place which are designed to accelerate sustainable development through trade. Through various discussions between the Ministry of Trade and Industry and members of SADC, COMESA and others participating in WTO and UNCTAD initiatives, Malawi is expecting to develop strategies which will integrate trade and environmental affairs with concrete policy formulation and proposals.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
Major Groups participating in this area include NGOs, the Chamber of Commerce; and local communities.
Programmes
and Projects
No information is available.
Status
Environmental concerns are being looked at in the process of developing and updating integrated national and sectoral policies, plans and programmes. Malawi has bilateral and multilateral trade relations with a number of countries based on the Most Favoured Nations Principle, within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for East and Central Africa (COMESA). Under these trade measures, policies on export bonus vouchers, a dual exchange rate system and a common currency have been put in place to stimulate trade in the region.
Challenges
No information is available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
In order to fully improve the trade sector and enforce the requirements of the associated conventions and agreements, Malawi plans to carry out public awareness campaigns and train its personnel so that errors are minimized, including monitoring function at major airports to regulate the in- and outflow of wildlife products, exports of domestic products and import of capital goods and products.
Information
No information is available.
Research
and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
Malawi is currently chairman of SADC and COMESA through the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This information is based on Malawi's submission to the 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: 1 April 1997
Click here to access UNCTAD's Country Profile on Malawi:
| Malawi | All Countries | Home |
The Ministries of: Energy and Mining; Trade and Industry; Forestry and Natural Resources; Economic Planning and Development; Women and Children Affairs; Research and Environmental Affairs; the Malawi Bureau of Standards and the Consumer Association of Malawi need to constantly meet to develop a national strategy and the associated legislation. The Malawi Industrial Research and Technology Development Centre (MIRTDC) is a full partner.
The Ministry of Energy and Mining, the Malawi Industrial Research and Technical Centre and other associated organizations have been mandated to work expeditiously in the area of energy for the masses in the country which should include: the use of biogas; solar energy; multi-fuel oven using sawdust wood; mai-bawo (an energy-saving stove) and probably establish; and monitor eco-labelling through the mandate of the Malawi Bureau of Standards and the Consumer Association of Malawi.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No policy has been drafted yet, although a number of sub-committees are in place in various sectors of the government and in NGO sectors to address the issue of consumption patterns in the country.
Of major importance could be the establishment of kerosene oil depots in places where a regular energy supply for people can be ensured without harming the forests. This initiative will have to go jointly with mass production of kerosene stoves throughout the country.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
Major target groups are industries and households. Contributors to this initiative include the Government, para-statals, NGOs, donor agencies and the local communities.
Programmes
and Projects
No information is available.
Status
Although consumers in Malawi may seem not to be aware of their environment or ways in which sustainability could be achieved, it is the nexus of poverty, high population growth, environmental degradation and the concomitant lack of alternatives that prevent attention being given to sustainable consumption patterns. However, efforts have been made and are being put in place to monitor consumption of energy, food security, the use of appropriate technologies for energy and production, and to modernize traditional industries. An NGO, the Consumer Association of Malawi, has been established to monitor consumption patterns in the country with support of the government.
Challenges
No information is available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
Capacity building takes place through pilot projects in the use of cleaner alternative technologies in production, formal and non-formal training and study tours around the region. Public awareness campaigns have been carried out with the Malawi Bureau of Standards and the Consumer Association of Malawi to inform the public about what needs to be done in this area.
Public awareness campaigns are to be beefed up together with some suggestions for alternatives.
Information
No information is available.
Research
and Technologies
Appropriate technologies, including cleaner production technology through capacity building, will serve to reduce the use of non-renewable resources, reduce the consumption of environmentally sensitive materials and reduce emissions and waste.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
No information is available.
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This information is based on Malawi's submission to the 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: 1 April 1997
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For
information on participating States in the Global Environment Facility,
click here:
For
information about issues and projects in Africa from the World Bank, click
here:
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
The Malawi Industrial Research and Technology Development Centre (MIRTDC) is a member of the GEF. MIRTDC works together with the Malawi Bureau of Standards in conducting waste audits. There is a National Steering Committee for the GEF and an Energy Technical Panel at the national level.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
Appropriate technology initiatives are being developed.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes
and Projects
No information is available.
Status
No information is available.
Challenges
No information is available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
A Regional Energy Training Centre at the Natural Resources College is intended to be set up.
Information
MIRTDC has a database for companies which have technology for transfer to other parties.
Research
and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
See "Cooperation" for details.
Cooperation
The Institutional Support for Environmental Management Project is funded
by UNDP; development of environmental legislation is supported by UNEP;
and enabling activities on Climate Change Country Studies are funded by
UNDP. There are links with Southern Africa on leadership for environment.
There are also links with the SADC energy management project for industrial
energy management.
Malawi has in place a National Biosafety and Biotechnology Committee
chaired by the Biology Department of the University of Malawi. This committee
is under the ambit of the Malawi National Biodiversity Committee and the
National Research Council.
Members of the National Committee are drawn from the National Research
Council of Malawi, Ministry of Research and Environmental Affairs (NCE/TCE),
Malawi Industrial Research Technology and Development Centre, Genetic Resources
and Biotechnology Committee, University of Malawi, Ministry of Agriculture
and Livestock Development, Malawi Bureau of Standards, National Herbarium
and Botanical Gardens.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
The mandate of the Committee is to look at the five stipulations mentioned under 'Challenges', to look into the safe use and handling of genetically modified organisms, to put into effect the UNEP Guidelines on Biosafety and the development, monitoring and evaluation of other biotechnology initiatives in the country, including safe disposal of pharmaceutical wastes according to UNICEF standards and appropriate technology.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes
and Projects
No information is available.
Status
No information is available.
Challenges
Some work has been done in investment in modern biotechnology such as use of biogas as a renewable energy source. However, much needs to be done regarding: (a) increasing availability of food, feed and renewable raw materials; (b) improving human health; (c) enhancing the protection of the environment; (d) enhancing safety and developing international mechanisms for cooperation; and (e) establishing enabling mechanisms for the development and the environmentally sound application of biotechnology.
Capacity-building,
Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research
and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
Public donor and private funding contribute to the current biotechnology initiatives in Malawi.
Cooperation
Malawi participates in all sub-regional, regional and international cooperative policy development and capacity-building ventures. Malawi attends meetings at the regional biosafety and biotechnology centre based in Harare and other SADC centres. Attendance at the biosafety and biotechnology meetings organized by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Cairo, Madrid, Aarhus and Ethiopia was also done.
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This information is based on Malawi's submission to the 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: 1 April 1997
Click here to link
to the Biosafety Information Network and Advisory Service (BINAS), a service
of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), which
monitors global developments in regulatory issues in biotechnology.
Click here to go to the Web
Site of UNEP's International Register on Biosafety.
Click here for the
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Biosafety
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