Tropical cyclone Freddy 2023: post-disaster needs assessment of Malawi's culture and heritage sectors Report

Tropical Cyclone Freddy (TC Freddy) made landfall in Malawi in March 2023, resulting in loss of and disruption to lives and livelihoods in the Southern Region of Malawi, specifically Blantyre, Zomba, Phalombe, Mangochi, and Chiradzulu. 

A multi-sector post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) of the impacts of TC Freddy was implemented in April 2023.Although the culture and heritage sectors of Malawi in the affected regions did not escape the effects of TC Freddy, it was impossible to include a comprehensive assessment of the culture and heritage sectors in this multi-sector assessment. Instead, a summary of cultural sector impacts was produced for inclusion in the more comprehensive PDNA report. This, however, did not diminish the cross-cutting nature of culture nor its critical role in fostering social cohesion and building resilience. 

Through support from UNESCO’s Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF) and the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa, an assessment was undertaken during May and June 2023 in collaboration with the Department of Museums and Monuments of the Ministry of Local Government, Unity, and Culture and the Malawi National Commission for UNESCO. This assessment includes broader sector consultations representing all culture domains, recommendations, and a developed recovery framework over the short, medium, and long-term. The report produced will be annexed to the broader Malawi 2023 Tropical Cyclone Freddy Post-Disaster Needs Assessment. 

The draft of this report was shared with Malawian culture and non-culture partners and later presented at a validation meeting hosted in Lilongwe, Malawi on 27 July 2023. The feedback received in all instances has been incorporated into this document’s present and final iteration.