Localizing vulnerability, hazard, and disaster risk assessments based on the Hazards-of-Place model in Southern Malawi

Abstract

The localization of vulnerability, hazard, and risk assessments to advance disaster risk reduction is critical. Although several models of vulnerability, hazard, and disaster risk exist, their applicability at a microscale level remains largely untested, limiting their ability to inform stakeholders directly involved in disaster risk management (DRM) in Malawi. Different regions of Malawi face distinct levels of risks and vulnerabilities, prompting stakeholder participation in the DRM discourse, but with limited access to evidence-based decision-making tools. Therefore, this study applies the Hazards-of-Place Model to assess vulnerability, hazard, and disaster risk in the traditional authorities (TAs) of Lundu and Kalembo, located in the disaster-prone districts of Chikwawa and Balaka, respectively, in southern Malawi. The model was employed to evaluate vulnerability and disaster risk; analyze mitigation, resilience, and adaptive capacity (AC); and develop a community engagement and resilience framework. Designed as a qualitative study, it employed 15 focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with 352 participants to provide in-depth, locally specific insights into community values, perceptions, practices, and social contexts. Findings indicate that households in both TAs are exposed to multiple hazards due to the biophysical characteristics of their areas, while AC measures remain insufficient to mitigate risks. Furthermore, land governance and leadership structures exacerbate vulnerability. This study highlights that the degree of exposure to hazards in Lundu and Kalembo significantly influences vulnerability to disaster risk. This study provides a community engagement resilience framework that can be applied to hazard and risk mitigation and serves as a tool to support the implementation of adaptive and transformative interventions aimed at reducing multiple vulnerabilities and risks in these communities.

Keywords

Vulnerability / Hazard / Disaster risk / Chikwawa / Balaka / Malawi

Funding

The authors acknowledge that the financial support received from the United Nations Children’s Fund through the Creative for Community Centre Community Mobilization project, which focuses on analyzing the roles and responsibilities of community-based platforms in addressing social norms in DRM. The authors also acknowledge the financial support received from the Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development project on climate change and ecosystem management in Malawi and Tanzania (grant number: 63826) and the Centre for Resilient Agri-Food Systems under the Africa Centres of Excellence program.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced their writing of this article.

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