Abstract

This thesis presents an assessment of Mobile Phones and the Dissemination of Climate and Disaster Information in the Southern Malawi district of Nsanje. Due to climate change, Malawi continues to experience disasters such as floods and droughts. As such the use of mobile phones has become part of the communication approaches in disseminating climate and disaster information, to which, on observation, studies have not explicitly indicated how the usage of the phones has contributed to reducing the severity of disasters such as floods in disaster-prone areas in Malawi. Thus, this qualitative study employed a technological-led theoretical framework informed by E-Agri Theory. Data was collected using focus group discussions and in-depth interviews, and similarly, data was analysed using Thematic Analysis. The study revealed that while mobile phones are used for climate and disaster information, they as a resource for communicating the interventions are not evenly distributed, demotivating active participation among community members tasked with disaster issues. Further, lack of capacity and skills to use the phones, and poor ICT infrastructure were challenges affecting the use of mobile phones in the dissemination of climate and disaster information. The ‘Digital Divide’ seems to be a major pitfall in the utilisation of ICT and Communication in development in Malawi. ICT infrastructure development and policy direction are recommended to enhance technological innovations that spur desired change among rural communities in disaster-prone areas such as Nsanje. The findings reflected the aim and specific objectives of the study as the aim of the study was to assess the utilisation of mobile phones in the sharing of climate and disaster information in Nsanje district.

More details

School	: School of Arts, Communication and Design
Issued Date	: 2025

Download full document