Open and accountable climate action (MW0021)
Overview
At-a-Glance
Action Plan: Not Attached
Action Plan Cycle: 2025
Status:
Institutions
Lead Institution: Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change (Environmental Affairs Department) | Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC)
Support Institution(s): Government: MoFEA; Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA); DoF; Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Climate Change; Malawi Environment Protection Agency (MEPA); MoLGUC; Ministry of Health; National Statistical Office Civil Society: NRJN; CEPA; ActionAid; National Youth Network on Climate Change; Section30 Oxfam Malawi Gender Justice Unit Association of Environmental Journalists FEDOMA Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi (APAM) LEAD Malawi Academia MISA Malawi Media Council of Malawi (MCM)
Policy Areas
Anti-Corruption and Integrity, Audits, Climate Finance, Environment and Climate, Fiscal Openness, Mainstreaming Participation, Participation-Focused, Participatory Approaches, Public Participation, Publication of Budget/Fiscal InformationIRM Review
IRM Report: Pending IRM Review
Early Results: Pending IRM Review
Design i
Verifiable: Pending IRM Review
Relevant to OGP Values: Pending IRM Review
Ambition (see definition): Pending IRM Review
Implementation i
Completion: Pending IRM Review
Description
1. What problem does the commitment aim to address?
Despite strong climate plans (e.g. NCCMP, Malawi’s NDC under the Paris Agreement), Malawi lacks an institutionalized, transparent system for tracking climate actions, budgets, and results. Data is scattered across institutions and not regularly published. This reduces trust, impairs coordination, and limits oversight. Communities and CSOs are minimally involved.
2. What are the causes of the problem?
(a) Fragmented coordination.
(b) No legal mandates for data disclosure.
(c) Absence of standardized MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) systems.
(d) Ad hoc consultations, lacking feedback loops.
(e) Limited investment in data systems.
Commitment Description
1. What has been done so far to solve the problem?
Malawi submitted its NDC in 2021 (with MRV framework).
Climate Change Finance MIS developed.
District councils trained on CCFMIS.
National Adaptation Plan and Enhanced Transparency Framework portals created.
Greenhouse Gas Inventory developed.
NCCMP and sectoral policies being implemented but fragmented, without legal backing.
2. What solution are you proposing?
Government commits to implement an Open Climate Action Initiative, which will:
(a) Operationalize a national MRV system aligned with NDC and global standards.
(b) Launch a public Climate Finance Dashboard (funding flows, gaps, expenditures).
(c) Strengthen citizen and CSO participation in climate planning.
(d) Enact regulations mandating proactive disclosure (EIA, audits, NDC data).
(e) Establish a Climate Transparency Unit in Environmental Affairs Dept.
(f) Create a platform for bankable projects to attract climate finance.
3. What results do we want to achieve?
(a) Developed MRV system + Climate Finance Dashboard.
(b) Published EIAs, audits, NDC data.
(c) Increased citizen participation.
(d) Enhanced trust + accountability in climate action.
(e) Platform for private sector climate finance.
Commitment Analysis
Relevance to MW2063: Supports Enabler 7: Environmental Sustainability. Ensures resilience, transparency, civic participation, and innovation.
Transparency: Open Climate Portal and Finance Dashboard.
Accountability: MRV system, audits, CSO monitoring.
Citizen Participation: Institutionalized consultations, community monitoring, inclusive tools.
Commitment Planning
Milestones | Expected Outputs | Expected Completion
Operationalize MRV system | MRV developed + implemented| Dec 2028
Develop Climate Finance Dashboard | Dashboard launched, inflows/expenditures disclosed Dec 2028
Strengthen citizen/CSO participation Guidelines adopted, feedback reports published | Dec 2028
Promulgate regulations | EIA disclosure regulations in force; Online platform for EIAs + audits operational | Dec 2028