Rights Group to Boost Local Governance Role in Malawi Development
The project will cover all nine traditional authorities in Nsanje district in southern Malawi.
NSANJE, Malawi— A human rights organization in Malawi plans to enhance the role of local governance structures in tracking how public funds are used for development projects, writes Cornelius Lupenga.
The Malawi Human Rights Resources Centre will implement a one-year project called "Enhancing Citizen's Participation in Local Governance and Development Processes III" in Nsanje district.
The group's capacity development associate, Noel Msiska, said Tuesday that area development committees and village development committees will engage duty bearers in interface meetings about the use of development funds.
The project "advances the argument that effective implementation of public expenditure lies in strong systems of expenditure tracking and access to possible information and tracking local revenues," Msiska said.
It aims to reduce inequality in the allocation of public resources, focusing on health, education and social protection activities.
However, Msiska acknowledged there is a "gap" and "lack of information" among local governance structures about monitoring fund flows.
Senior Chief Chimombo agreed, saying the committees are unable to question duty bearers such as members of parliament about implementing the Constituency Development Fund.
"It is too hard for the duo committees (to) ask the MP or councilors on developmental fund," Chimombo said.
He welcomed the human rights group's 90.3 million kwacha ($97,000) project supported by Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurch Aid, saying it "will open the local governance structures."
The project will cover all nine traditional authorities in Nsanje district in southern Malawi.