Climate Change Vulnerability, Impact, and Adaptive Capacity of Rural Populace in Malawi: A Systematic Literature Review.

This article systematically reviews the vulnerability, impacts, and adaptive capacity of Malawi's rural population to climate change, emphasizing the country's heavy reliance on rain-fed smallholder agriculture and natural resources. It highlights increasing frequency and severity of droughts, floods, and erratic rainfall over the past two decades, which threaten food security, livelihoods, and economic development, particularly among rural communities with limited adaptive capacity. The study underscores the importance of income diversification, climate-smart agricultural practices, and integration of indigenous knowledge with scientific forecasting to enhance resilience. It also examines Malawi's socio-economic context, existing policy frameworks—including the National Adaptation Plan and climate finance challenges—and calls for locally tailored, evidence-based adaptation strategies supported by improved coordination, funding mechanisms, and stakeholder engagement to address climate risks effectively.