Malawi Local Governance Structures Urged to Understand Policy Documents
The MHRRC is implementing the "Fighting Inequality in Education, Health and Social Protection" project with support from Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and DanChurch Aid (DCA).
NSANJE, Malawi-- Local governance structures in Malawi have been challenged to fully understand government policy documents to effectively monitor development projects funded by the government, writes Cornelius Lupenga.
Noel Msiska, Capacity Development Associate for the Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC), made this statement Wednesday during a training session for local governance structures in Bangula, Nsanje.
Msiska said most local governance bodies are unaware of policy documents, leading to their failure to track issues in project implementation.
"There are indeed gaps in terms of knowledge in the Area Development Committees (ADCs), Village Development Committees (VDCs), and faith leaders, among other structures," Msiska said.
"It is my expectation that by the end of the training, the committees will be in a position to monitor how the resources are being used."
Vision Vinti, chairperson for the Traditional Authority Mbenje Area Development Committee, acknowledged that the committees previously lacked knowledge of policy documents.
"This training has been an eye-opener. We are going to ask our duty bearers to be accountable for any projects," Vinti said.
The MHRRC is implementing the "Fighting Inequality in Education, Health and Social Protection" project with support from Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and DanChurch Aid (DCA).