Capacity-building workshop on forest landscape restoration held in Malawi

Strengthening Malawi’s capacity for forest landscape restoration

The Government of Malawi, in collaboration with the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat (UNFFS), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Bank, held a national capacity-building and validation workshop on forest landscape restoration (FLR) from 4 to 6 November 2025 in Lilongwe. The workshop, hosted by the Department of Forestry under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs, brought together 40 participants from government institutions, academia, civil society, development partners and UN agencies.

Advancing integrated forest landscape restoration strategies

The event aimed to strengthen the capacity of national and district-level stakeholders on integrated forest landscape restoration (IFLR) and validate Malawi’s national and district-level FLR strategies. These strategies, developed with support from UNFFS, IUCN and other partners, will guide coordinated efforts to restore degraded lands, address the drivers of deforestation, and enhance the contribution of forests to sustainable development.

Collaborative planning for sustainable development

During the three-day workshop, participants discussed the enabling policy environment for IFLR, reviewed updated restoration opportunities mapping by IUCN, and examined best practices and lessons learned from FAO, WRI and other partners. They also validated district-level FLR strategies and provided feedback on the draft FLR financing framework. The sessions included technical presentations, group discussions and a high-level panel on resource mobilisation and community engagement.

Supporting Malawi’s national goals and the Global Forest Goals

Malawi faces significant challenges from land degradation, soil erosion and deforestation, which impact agricultural productivity and water resources. The national FLR strategy aims to address these issues through coordinated restoration efforts that support livelihoods, enhance resilience and contribute to the Global Forest Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UN support through the Development Account project

The workshop was organised under the UNFF Secretariat’s Development Account project Turning the Tide on Deforestation: Building Partnerships to Combat Intensifying Impacts of Climate Change, Forest Fires and Zoonotic Diseases. The project supports Malawi in developing an integrated restoration strategy and financing framework to attract public and private investments in forest landscape restoration.