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Empowering Communities: Hope in Nsanje's fight against Loss and Damage

In the face of adversity, dreams are often the seeds of hope that keep communities resilient. In Nsanje, the dream of overcoming the effects of Loss and Damage is becoming a vibrant reality.

Gratitude fills the air as communities from Group Village Mambundungu, Traditional Authority Malemia in Nsanje, express their joy at the transformative power of micro grants provided by CARD. These micro grants are not just financial assistance; they are lifelines, empowering communities to reduce the impact of flash floods and forge a path towards resilience.

CARD's visionary approach to project ownership, sustainability and accountability is empowering local structures to take charge of their own destiny. Through training and collaboration, communities are designing and implementing early actions to mitigate forecasted disasters, with the Village Disaster Risk Management Committees (VDRMCs) at the helm, crafting proposals that draw from existing contingency plans aimed at Disaster Risk Reduction.

Through a comprehensive strategy that addresses both the tangible and intangible impacts of disasters, CARD is making waves in Nsanje, by training Disaster Risk Management Committees (DRMCs) in psychosocial support to address mental health issues post-cyclone. Implementing catchment conservation measures with bamboo planting and tree procurement to mitigate upstream land use impacts. Empowering local structures for early action through community-level micro grants. Installing weather monitoring equipment in schools for early warning. Providing playground equipment to child-care centers. Drilling boreholes and installing chlorine dispensers for relocated communities to access clean water. Prepositioning resources for anticipatory actions based on forecasted hazards, including fuel and relief items, in coordination with local authorities.

Funded by the Scottish Government through the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) and Trocaire, CARD's project is a beacon of hope in the fight against Loss and Damage. Together, we are rewriting the narrative of hope and empowerment, one initiative at a time.