‘It's like these scientists own the rains’: indigenous knowledge, disaster warnings, and the politics of legitimacy in Malawi

This study examines the declining use of indigenous knowledge (IK) in early warning systems for climate-related disasters in Malawi, drawing on qualitative data from four disaster-prone districts and national-level institutions. While IK is frequently referenced in policy discourse and programmatic frameworks, its practical integration into disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts remains limited, underlining deeper epistemic tensions that structure disaster governance. The findings reveal that scientific systems are institutionally privileged owing to donor logics, technocratic norms, and standardised metrics, while IK is increasingly marginalised, both by formal structures and shifting community dynamics, including youth disengagement, intergenerational disconnects, and religious beliefs. Adopting a co-productionist lens, the study argues for a move beyond tokenistic inclusion and towards genuine knowledge pluralism, recognising the distinct value of IK in fostering resilience, particularly in resource-constrained and culturally diverse settings. The paper contributes to ongoing debates on epistemic justice, legitimacy, and the politics of knowledge in DRR and climate adaptation.