ACCESS4ALL Group

My local community in Somalia is undergoing climate change in a very severe way, particularly through the prolonged droughts, high temperatures, and unpredictable rainfall patterns.

One of the examples would be that the recurring droughts have led to a significant decrease in water supply in both rural and urban areas. Many shallow wells and berkads remain dry for months, thus, making the communities, especially pastoralists, to walk long distances for water. This situation not only increases water-related conflicts but also puts a heavy pressure on women and children.

The irregular rainfall has further caused the disruption of agricultural and livestock systems. Farmers are left in a dilemma on when to plant their crops while the lack of grazing leads to livestock deaths, thus, jeopardizing food security and income. Drought-like conditions have also caused malnutrition and displacement of especially the less fortunate families.

As a result, in cooperation with humanitarian organizations,…

In my local community, in Malawi we're experiencing the effects of climate change particularly extreme heat wave, irregular rainfall and rising water levels in lake Malawi.

For example during heat season, areas that are naturally at higher altitudes such as chikwawa sometimes experience temperature as high as 45°c which makes daily life very challenging. The extreme heat not only affects not only human health, dehydration and heat stress but also agricultural activities such as crops struggling to survive.

The rain seasons have become unpredictable, with irregular rainfall patterns making it difficult for famers to plan planting and harvesting,

Another major issues is the rising levels of lake Malawi which has caused flooding of beach houses and nearby settlements. This flooding does not only affect the infrastructures but also disrupts local livelihoods , especially for families that depends on fishing and tourism.

• The community and the local government have responded by…

Similar to the Philippines, Togo is increasingly exposed to climate-related natural hazards, although the nature of the risks differs. While the Philippines frequently experiences powerful typhoons and storm surges, Togo is mainly affected by coastal erosion, flooding, droughts, and irregular rainfall patterns. Climate change has intensified these events, increasing the frequency of floods in urban and low-lying areas and prolonging dry spells in the northern regions, which directly affects agricultural production and water availability.

The regions most affected in Togo include the coastal zone, particularly around Lomé and the Maritime Region, where coastal erosion and sea-level rise threaten settlements, infrastructure, and livelihoods. In addition, the northern regions, such as the Savannah and Kara regions, face recurrent droughts and erratic rainfall that undermine rain-fed agriculture. As in the Philippines, these impacts are spatially uneven and closely linked to environmental degradation and land-use practices.

The communities most affected are coastal fishing communities,…

The case study Restoring Hope Through Mangroves – A Story from the Philippines highlights how environmental restoration can strengthen community resilience, reduce poverty, and empower vulnerable groups. While Malawi is a landlocked country and does not have mangroves, there are important similarities and differences in climate challenges, affected communities, and adaptation strategies.

1. Common Natural Hazards and Climate Change Impacts

In Malawi, the most common natural hazards include flooding, droughts, cyclones, and prolonged dry spells. Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of floods and droughts, particularly in recent years. Cyclones such as Idai (2019), Ana (2022), and Freddy (2023) caused widespread flooding, loss of life, and destruction of livelihoods.

This is similar to the Philippines, where stronger typhoons have become more destructive due to climate change. However, unlike the Philippines’ coastal storm surges, Malawi’s disasters are mainly riverine floods and rainfall-related events.

2. Areas Facing the Greatest Impacts

The most affected…