Malawi’s efforts to create a conducive environment for all-round development in the country received a boost with the signing on Friday of USD1m grant agreement between the Government and the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) for the establishing of the Malawi Public Policy Research and Analysis Project (MPPRAP).
The overall goal of the project is to enhance the effectiveness and relevance of public policies in Malawi and will ensure that Malawi’s sectorial strategies are aligned to the existing long-term development strategy called Malawi Growth and Development Strategy-II.
Malawian Finance Minister, Hon. Goodall E. Gondwe's said in his speech that the ACBF grant came at the time when the Government of Malawi had establish the National Economic Planning Commission which could be well supported by research studies to be conducted by the MPPRAP. “The Government of Malawi wants to have the support of ACBF not only through this grant, but also through technical advice that ACBF provides to the Government on conducting research studies towards effective policy formulation.”
“Given that Malawi’s Growth and Development Strategy is an overarching policy for the development in the country, it is a must that other sectorial policies are in sync with it,” said Prof Emmanuel Nnadozie, ACBF’s Executive Secretary. “Therefore, the establishment of the MPPRAP is highly desirable option as it would improve policy research, formulation, analysis and review. There is serious need to improve the formulation of evidence-based policy and ensure that sectorial policies are supporting each other and the overall strategy.”
The MPPRAP project will address the current challenges of uncoordinated and inconsistent policy formulations with efforts scattered in different ministries and agencies. It will also have the task of providing the necessary foundation to formulate policies by conducting research studies and building the capacity of stakeholders for effective policy implementation.
The project follows a phased approach, which will see preparatory activities focus on institutional set-up aspects while the core program activities will be implemented once basic facilities and human resources are in place.
The project is planned for a period of two years, from early 2016 up to the end of 2017. The total budget allocated is USD1.4 Million of which USD1 million is provided by ACBF and the remainder will be contributed by the Government of Malawi as co-financing in kind and in cash.
Malawi’s government has renewed commitment to sound macroeconomic policies and good governance. It recognizes that evidence-based policy research and formulation is one way of addressing the challenges the country faces.
ACBF support to Malawi dates back to 2005 when the Foundation extended a USD1.2m grant to support the Malawi Statistical Systems Project (MSSP). The project resulted in building human and institutional capacity of the National Statistical Office and other data producing agencies like the Reserve Bank of Malawi and line Ministries.
ACBF’s second project in the country was a USD300 000 grant to University of Malawi (Polytechnic) for the establishment of the Malawi Knowledge Network for Research and Development Policy (MAKNET). During the 4 years of operation, the project mobilized policy experts, academics, professional associations, public and private sector institutions and individuals to share and debate developmental issues in Malawi.
