The project team from Malawi highlights the range of institutions they have involved in their work to mainstream biodiversity in the country, from Lilongwe City Council through to the National Commission for Science and Technology. They identify engagement and dialogue as important steps in making progress, in their presentation given at the ‘Biodiversity mainstreaming’ workshop held in Sogakope, Ghana, from 1-3 November 2016. More information: www.iied.org/nbsaps

1. COUNTRY PROGRESS AND
CHALLENGES
Malawi presentation

2. 1. Top people engaged
INSTITUTION ENTRY POINTS
Parks and wildlife Public private partnerships policy(African Parks
,Lilongwe Wild Life Centre
Physical planning Draft Physical planning policy
Energy
Disaster management affairs
Lilongwe City Council LBSAP
Economic Planning Department (Poverty
Environment Initiative)
MGDS III
Environmental Impact Assessment Division EIA Guidelines
Climate Change National Adaptation Plan processes, Climate
Change Management Policy
Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi
Conservation Research Africa
National Commission for Science and Technology

3. 2. Top change achieved or expected
• Integration of biodiversity into policies and regulations which include;
-Draft physical planning policy
-Environmental Impact Assessment guidelines
- Environment Management Bill
- Malawi Growth Development Strategy III (process in progress)
-National Adaptation Plan (NAP)
-Lilongwe city council (LBSAP)
-Climate Change Management Policy
-Mainstreaming implementation on the ground in Protected area management.

4. 3. Top lessons about successful mainstreaming
• Consistent commitment is very important in mainstreaming- not stopping
at the inclusion of Biodiversity in policies but also included in sectoral
budgets
• Engagement and dialogue is one of the important steps in mainstreaming
Biodiversity
• Clear implementation guidelines and indicators of Biodiversity
mainstreaming with follow-up tools and practices enhance the success of
mainstreaming.
• Biodiversity mainstreaming without funding is futile.
• Spatial data is important in building business cases for biodiversity and we
should focus on highlighting benefits.

5. 4. Top challenge/problem where you need
help
• Lack of funding for continuation of activities
• Availability of spatial data(no data base)
• Lack of mainstreaming guidelines, indicators on how sectors can
mainstream poses a challenge for sectors to embark on the
mainstreaming journey