Community Resilience Fund: A Model for Locally Led Climate Adaptation

Malawi faces escalating climate disasters, particularly floods. In response, the government enacted the progressive Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Act 2023 and established a national DRM Trust Fund. However, implementation gaps persist: funding prioritizes emergency response over preparedness, and district councils remain under-resourced. 

Under the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance, the Nsanje District pilot of the Community Resilience Fund (CRF) demonstrates a scalable, community-led solution that fosters ownership and accountability. The CRF model aligns with global climate finance agendas by enabling direct support to vulnerable communities. Key recommendations include operationalizing the DRM Trust Fund, adopting the CRF model, securing dedicated national budget lines, and aligning international finance with decentralized delivery and capacity building.