Malawi Correspondent MacDonald Nyirenda holds a bachelor degree in Journalism from University of Malawi and his main areas of expertise are feature writing, photography and documentary filmmaking.
Why did you decide to join the Groundwater Correspondents Network?
"My country Malawi is one of the developing countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa, which every year experiences climate change induced disaster such as floods and droughts. These effects of climate change have caused access to clean water, agricultural productivity and management of water especially the groundwater a challenge in Malawi particularly in rural areas where 80% of Malawi’s 20 Million people live. Malawi as a SADC country, up to 85% of our domestic water supply is from groundwater.
Malawi has a high occurrence of transboundary aquifers, which motivated me to be the pioneer of telling simplified scientific stories with local voices about Malawi groundwater that have been less shared locally and even at global scene. Learning, gaining skills and sharing experiences with global experts in groundwater and development through the Groundwater Correspondents Network is a life-time achievement in my career contribution to my country and the world. Being part of the network offers me a global platform to contribute untold and deserving stories. It will also provide knowledge on the groundwater resources of Malawi that will stimulate support towards sustainable utilisation and management of the groundwater resources at local and national scale."
Which topics would you like to cover during your period as correspondent?
- "Rural Woman and Groundwater in the Aftermath of Cyclone Freddy
- Efforts of Malawi Government in Managing Groundwater in Reducing Impacts of Climate Change Shocks"