Monday, 11 August 2003: Malawi is
continuing steps to reinforce District Assemblies' administrative and financial
management to strengthen local democracy, promote development and reduce
poverty.
The Government launched a national decentralized
governance programme recently in Mangochi District in the south, where
communities have carried out a number of local development activities.
The initiative, which runs through 2006, will help improve district management
of finances and development activities.
Support for the US$12 million programme comes from Germany, Norway -- which is funding UNCDF's work -- the United States and UNDP. It is the third decentralization programme developed by the Government in partnership with UNDP and the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) since 1993.
District Assemblies, elected in 2000, provide democratic leadership on the local level, a shift from three decades of highly centralized rule in landlocked Malawi, one of the world's poorest countries, where 70 per cent of the people live in rural areas.
The assemblies decide on priorities, such as building schools, improving water supplies and upgrading rural access roads, in consultation with communities and help mobilize resources to carry them out. A District Development Fund, established by UNDP and UNCDF, supports these efforts.
Henry Midiani, Deputy Minister for Local Government and District Administration, said that the initiative is part of a comprehensive Government programme for transferring power to local people to promote development. For the shift to be meaningful, there needs to be open dialogue at the grassroots, "listening to people and coming up with measures that address their needs," he added.
"Decentralization is not an end in itself," said UNDP Resident Representative Zahra Nuru. "It is a means to achieve programmes for socio-economic development, poverty reduction and good governance." In this way, she noted, the programmme promotes progress towards halving severe poverty by 2015 and the other targets of the Millennium Development Goals agreed on by world leaders.
Malawi faces many challenges, ranging from poverty and HIV/AIDS to environmental degradation and drought and food shortages, she said. "Districts and communities need to be empowered socially and economically so they can be part of the solutions to the problems affecting them."
The programme provides financial management training for staff from the central Government to the District Assembly level, and has installed an integrated financial management system for all District Assemblies.
UNCDF is working with the Department of Local Government to develop a management information system. The programme also helps districts enhance means of raising revenue through reforms in areas such as property valuations and licensing.
A number of districts have lined up projects for completion by December in consultation with communities. Thyolo District in the south, for example, is planning to construct two school blocks and one bridge, mount an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign, construct toilets in markets and rehabilitate a rest house and a community hall.
For further information please contact Janet Karim (janet.karim@undp.org), UNDP Malawi, or Cassandra Waldon (cassandra.waldon@undp.org), UNDP Communications Office.