Developing Malawi's draft Housing Bill
Factsheet
In April 2025, Malawi submitted a request for technical legal assistance, involving the development of adequate and effective environmental legislation to support the sustainable management of the housing sector in Malawi. The activity specifically entails the drafting of a comprehensive Housing Bill, guided by the recently developed Housing Policy. The Bill aims to address challenges in the housing sector—including those related to land use, building standards, and institutional oversight—by embedding climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable principles into housing legislation. This work is essential to improve regulatory clarity, promote affordable housing, and ensure environmentally sound development practices.
A comprehensive Draft Housing Bill addressing key aspects of housing, including affordability, climate-resilient construction, and sustainable development.
UNEP will support the activity through the Montevideo Programme V, which aims to strengthen environmental rule of law by supporting countries in the development and implementation of environmental legislation. UNEP's support will include technical advice, facilitation of stakeholder engagement, legal drafting assistance, and coordination of international best practices. Preliminary activities such as the drafting of the Housing Policy, which will inform the Bill, have already been undertaken.
For more information, please contact Mr. Erick Khayota, Associate Legal Officer (erick.khayota@un.org), and Mr. Gracian Banda, Head, Montevideo Coordination and Delivery Unit (gracian.banda@un.org).