People possess a creative set of strategies based on their local knowledge (LK) that allow them to stay in flood-prone areas. Stakeholders involved with level flood risk management (FRM) often overlook and underutilise this LK. There is thus an increasing need for its identification, documentation assessment. Based qualitative research, paper critically explores the notion LK Malawi. Data was collected through 15 focus group discussions, 36 interviews field observation, analysed using...

Current flood risk strategies in Malawi are characterized by community-based management (CB-FRM), even though studies explicitly documenting evidence of successful CB-FRM remain limited. This paper investigates the realities and challenges as seen through a lens different stakeholders. In order to capture experiences CB-FRM, predominantly qualitative research framework was developed. 2016, 11 focus group discussions with stakeholder groups (local communities, local government...

It is often taken as given that community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) serves a mechanism for the inclusion of local knowledge (LK) in (DRR). In this paper, through in-depth qualitative analysis empirical data from Malawi, we investigate extent to which CBDRR practice really takes into account LK. This research argues LK underutilised and finds current provides limited opportunity LK, due five prime obstacles: i) approach community participation, ii) financial constraints capacity...

With a paradigm shift from flood protection to risk management that emphasises learning live with the floods, forecasting and warning have received more attention in recent times. However, for developing countries, lack of adequate good quality data support traditional hydrological modelling poses big challenge. While there has been increasing worldwide towards data-driven models, their application countries limited. A combination self-organising maps (SOM) multi-layer perceptron artificial...

Abstract. This paper investigated the long-term trends in precipitation from 16 stations located lower Shire catchment Malawi over period 1953–2010. Annual trend analysis was first considered, and order to take into account seasonality serial correlation, different months of year are considered. Trend significance determined using nonparametric Mann-Kendall (MK) test statistic while determination magnitudes achieved Sen’s slope method. The homogeneity examined Van Belle Hughes results...

Abstract. In response to the increasing frequency and economic damages of natural disasters globally, disaster risk management has evolved incorporate assessments that are multi-dimensional, integrated metric-based. This is support knowledge-based decision making hence sustainable reduction. Malawi most Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), however, flood studies remain focussed on understanding causation, impacts, perceptions coping adaptation measures. Using IPCC Framework, this study quantified...

The prominence of vulnerability assessments cannot be over emphasized.They are key in informing policy by supporting holistic, multi-disciplinary and evidence based implementation.They foster delineation locales sectors requiring resources interventions.About 90% the population Malawi most sub-Saharan Africa rely on rain fed agriculture.Due to this overreliance, people's livelihoods economy vulnerable hydrological hazards such as flood droughts, which account for 70% all region.This paper...

Abstract Rainfed agriculture, which is dominant in sub‐Saharan Africa, remains vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In this framework, flood‐based farming systems (FBFS) enable use floodwater as an opportunity for crop production. FBFS have received much attention recently; however, there limited guidance on how they can be promoted effectively rural areas. To do so and support adoption appropriate systems, it important understand current practice FBFS. This study focuses Balaka...

Effective planning, management and control of water resources systems require good quality long duration hydrometeorological data (Khalil et al., 1998). However, it is not uncommon to find records that exhibit some form deficiency through inadequate length, dubious or presence gaps discontinuities, as frequently occurs in developing countries (Gyau-Boake Schultz, 1994; Ilunga Stephenson, 2005; Adeloye, 2011a). The consequence using such uncertainty ineffectual performance resource (Adeloye,...

It is often taken as given that community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) serves a mechanism for the inclusion of local knowledge (LK) in (DRR). In this paper, through in-depth qualitative analysis empirical data from Malawi, we investigate extent to which CBDRR practice really takes into account LK. This research argues LK underutilised and finds current provides limited opportunity LK, due five prime obstacles: i) approach community participation, ii) financial constraints capacity...

<p>Agriculture is critical for human welfare and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, especially rainfed agriculture remains vulnerable to the impacts of climate change region. This has generated increasing interest practices such as Flood Based Farming Systems (FBFS) which enable turning flood water into an opportunity crop production smallholder farmers living plains. Despite this interest, there limited knowledge about farmers’ preference terms...