EXPLORING LIVELIHOOD STRUGGLES FACED BY FLOOD DISPLACED COMMUNITIES. A CASE STUDY AT MAKHANGA AREA IN NSANJE, MALAWI.

Floods have increasingly become a recurrent challenge in Malawi, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities and disrupting their livelihoods. This study explores the livelihood struggles faced by flood-displaced communities in the Makhanga area of Nsanje, Malawi. The research adopts a qualitative case study approach, utilizing in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observations to capture the experiences and coping mechanisms of displaced households. Findings indicate that floods lead to the destruction of homes, loss of agricultural land, livestock, and food stocks, which collectively undermine the economic stability of affected families. The study also reveals that displacement exacerbates poverty, disrupts education, and limits access to basic services such as healthcare and clean water. Many households resort to informal and often unsustainable income-generating activities, including petty trading, casual labor, and charcoal production, to survive. Social networks and community support systems are identified as critical mechanisms for coping, though these are frequently stretched thin due to the scale of displacement. Additionally, the research highlights gap in institutional support, including delayed relief distribution, inadequate and limited access to climate adaptation programs, which compound the vulnerability of flood-affected populations. The findings underscore the need for integrated disaster management strategies that combine immediate relief with long-term livelihood support, such as climate-resilient agriculture, skills development, and community-based resource management. This study contributes to the broader understanding of how recurrent flooding impacts rural livelihoods in Malawi and provides evidence for policymakers, non-governmental organizations, and development practitioners to design interventions that enhance the resilience and adaptive capacity of flood-displaced communities. By focusing on Makhanga, a flood-prone area, the research emphasizes the importance of context-specific solutions in addressing the intertwined challenges of environmental hazards and socio-economic vulnerability.