Award of the 2025 African Fellowships for Research in Indigenous and Alternative Knowledges (AFRIAK)
Research pair: Dr Daizy S Nalwamba (Zambia) and Dr Chimwemwe Phiri-Malawi
Funder: CODESRIA, with support from the Mastercard Foundation Duration of fellowship: Seven months Title: Harnessing Indigenous Ecological Knowledge: Enhancing Early Warning Systems for Climate Resilience in Zambia and Malawi
This project aims to strengthen flood and drought early warning systems in Zambia and Malawi by documenting and integrating traditional climate forecasting mechanisms, which are often overlooked in favour of Western high-tech methods. Using participatory approaches, it engages communities, traditional leaders, policy makers, and academics to promote inclusive, locally rooted strategies for climate change adaptation and risk reduction. By centring local ecological insights, the project seeks to decolonise environmental governance and promote inclusive approaches to climate adaptation, ultimately improving early warning systems and community preparedness.