MISA Malawi and the government of Canada have signed an agreement to promote active citizen and community media participation in the implementation of local community projects.
The 69,744.28 Canadian Dollar project is titled ‘Enhancing social accountability through citizen voices and community radio in Malawi’ and falls under Canada Fund for Local initiatives (CFLI).
The project will see MISA Malawi working with community radio stations to promote access to information at district level.
“This project seeks to ensure that ordinary Malawians participate in the design and implementation of local development projects and have access to relevant information on development plans and projects earmarked for their communities for effective overall implementation oversight of all community level government and donor investments,” reads part of the agreement.
The project includes training of 90 community radio journalists from across Malawi in investigative journalism to enable them to effectively track and monitor utilisation of local development funds such as the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Citizen participation in the governance and development process is critical. Most citizen-led structures established to spearhead and drive development at grassroots level are however sidelined or rarely included in the planning and implementation of local level development projects.
Most Malawians also lack voice and platform to hold duty bearers accountable. The citizens also lack information on development plans and projects taking place or earmarked for their own communities.
The six-month project also includes ‘Know the projects in your area’ radio programmes and community dialogue sessions that will be held in 9 districts across the country.
MISA Malawi championed the enactment of Malawi’s Access to Information Law and continues to push for its effective implementation.
