Malawi's Department of Climate Change and Services developed the Zanyengo meteorological App in an effort to make weather information more accessible, particularly to agricultural and fishing communities.
Zanyengo, a Chichewa word meaning weather, will assist communities that are especially vulnerable to climatic shocks by providing timely localised forecasts, which can mean the difference between a healthy harvest and food shortages, according to the department.
The app directly contributes to Malawi's national climate resilience goals by improving early warning systems and increasing people's ability to prepare for extreme weather and climate-related hazards.
It is also designed to be data-efficient and to store important information locally, allowing users to get vital updates even when offline. A hybrid approach, with SMS warnings, is also being considered.
The app was developed by the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, with technical assistance from MET Norway, and an expert deployed by the Norwegian Refugee Council.
Additional strategic support was provided by the World Meteorological Organisation, Save the Children Malawi, and other partners working to improve climate services throughout the country.
Zanyengo is built on a modern, open-source technology stack that includes React Native, allowing it to function flawlessly on both the Android and iOS platforms. It is currently accessible on Google Play, with ambitions to launch on the Apple App Store.
ITWeb Africa spoke with Yobu Kachiwanda, the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services' chief meteorologist for public weather services and aviation.
He said: "Accessibility was a major design priority. Through collaboration with Save the Children and international consultants, extensive user research guided the creation of an intuitive, icon-driven interface available in both English and Chichewa. Large buttons, simple navigation, and clear visual cues help users with low digital literacy engage with the app confidently."
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