Background

Malawi is in the final stages of developing its Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), with formal submission to the UNFCCC targeted for March 2026. As the country transitions from consultation and drafting to finalisation, validation is a critical step to ensure that the NDC 3.0 is ambitious, credible, implementable, and nationally owned.

To support this, the Government of Malawi, through the Environmental Affairs Department (EAD) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, is undertaking a series of validation workshops ahead of submission. These include regional validation workshops with district-level stakeholders, as well as a sectoral validation workshop with sector focal points at central level, to confirm priorities, clarify roles and responsibilities, and ensure alignment with institutional capacities and on-the-ground realities.

In support of this process, UNFCCC, through its Regional Collaboration Centre for Eastern and Southern Africa (RCC EASA), is providing direct country support to conduct the Central Region Validation Workshop and the Sectoral Validation Workshop, strengthening national ownership and readiness for implementation. The NDC 3.0 development process has been supported through the NDC Partnership, with technical assistance from the World Bank, UNDP, IRENA, and Climate Analytics, including an NDC 2.0 stocktake and preparation of a draft NDC 3.0.

Objectives

The validation workshops aim to:

• Validate sectoral priorities, measures and targets in the draft NDC 3.0 through structured engagement with line ministries, sector focal points and district-level stakeholders.

• Strengthen national ownership and buy-in through meaningful participation of central and sub-national actors responsible for implementation.

• Clarify roles, responsibilities and coordination arrangements across sectors and governance levels for NDC implementation.

• Identify key implementation, capacity and support needs required to operationalise NDC commitments post-submission.

• Ensure readiness for submission of a robust, coherent and nationally endorsed NDC 3.0 to the UNFCCC.

Expected outcomes

• Sectoral and sub-national inputs validated and integrated into the final NDC 3.0.

• NDC measures and targets reviewed, endorsed and confirmed by key sector and district stakeholders.

• Enhanced understanding of NDC 3.0 commitments, expectations and implementation pathways among participating stakeholders.

• Strengthened institutional coherence and coordination across sectors and levels of government.

• Increased national ownership, accountability and readiness for implementation and resource mobilisation following NDC 3.0 submission.

Target audience

• Line ministries and NDC sector focal points at central level.

• District-level stakeholders across relevant regions.

• Technical partners supporting Malawi’s NDC process.