ADVANCING ESG THROUGH GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS IN RESOURCE-CONSTRAINED MALAWIAN CITIES: AN EXPLORATORY QUALITATIVE STUDY

Malawi’s urban areas are increasingly vulnerable to climate-related disasters, including flooding, landslides, and extreme winds, while conventional infrastructure struggles under these pressures dueto outdated designs, limited maintenance, and poor climate adaptation. This study aims to examine how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)-aligned green infrastructure (GI) can strengthen urban resilience in resource-constrained Malawian cities, with a focus on Blantyre and Zomba. A qualitative, exploratory study was conducted using systematic document analysis of secondary sources, with thematic analysis applied to identify patterns in climate risk, governance constraints, and lessons for context-appropriate green infrastructure strategies. Findings show that GI interventions, including urban wetlands, permeable pavements, slope vegetation, and tree planting, offer significant environmental, social, and governance benefits: they reduce flood and landslide risks, improve waterquality, support biodiversity, create green jobs, enhance public health, and foster community inclusion, while strong governance ensures sustainability through institutional accountability, integrated planning, and transparent financing. A key limitation of this study is the absence of primary stakeholder interviews, which limits direct insights into municipal implementation challenges. Future research should engage local planners and communities to validate and extend these findings. This study provides guidance for policymakers, urban planners, and development partners on designing and implementing ESG-aligned green infrastructure strategies that reduce disaster risks and promote inclusive urban development. Academic contribution: It fills a knowledge gap on green infrastructure implementation in low-resource African cities, offering actionable insights for integrating ESG principles into urban planning. Societal impact: The findings advance climate resilience, social equity, and sustainable governance in Malawian urban contexts.