Project profile — Project for Economic Governance

• Malawi (100.00%)

• Public sector policy and administrative management:
Public sector policy and administrative management (15110) (25.00%)
Public finance management (15111) (30.00%)
Democratic participation and civil society (15150) (30.00%)
Media and free flow of information (15153) (15.00%)

• Gender equality (significant objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (not targeted)
• Participatory development and good governance (significant objective)
• Trade development (not targeted)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Children's issues (not targeted)
• Youth Issues (not targeted)
• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Disability (not targeted)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

This is a collaborative project, designed to promote democratic governance based on an effective Parliament, professional media, and citizen participation. The purpose is to strengthen institutions and processes that contribute to the free flow of information and allow interaction between citizens, elected representatives, and government officials with regard to government budgets. The project provides technical assistance, training and materials to non-governmental organizations, media representatives, members of parliament, parliamentary committees and district assemblies. Activities aim to build the capacity of citizens, the media and elected representatives to understand and contribute to the public budgeting process; increase the ability and openness of the Government of Malawi to receive and incorporate public input; and improve the availability of information and analysis on public expenditures. The UK Department for International Development (DfID) is contributing an additional $3.5 million to this project.

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Results achieved as of the end of project activities included: (1) the creation of a Civil Society/Parliamentary Task Force to enhance civil society engagement in the parliamentary budget process; (2) policy analysis and advocacy training for 25 civil society leaders; (3) over 120 reporters and editors trained in public finance and reporting on economic governance; (4) development of an economic journalism handbook for the Malawi media (1,000 distributed); (5) increased public participation in public expenditure decision-making processes; and (6) enhanced capacity of the media to work with civil society for effective budget advocacy. These activities have contributed to improved civil society participation in public expenditure decision-making processes, enhanced media usage by civil society groups for effective budget advocacy, and increased input from civil society on budget issues to Parliamentary Committees.

• Proactive disclosure