Nsanje Case Study

Updated on June 8, 2024
by admin

The Government of Malawi recognises that good governance is a prerequisite for economic growth and development as reflected in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS III) under Theme No 5 of Improved Governance. In October 2016, the Government of Malawi and the European Union signed a Financing Agreement for Chilungamo Programme. The Programme has two specific objectives, each with its own key results:

To strengthen democratic governance and enhance the ability of citizens, accountability institutions, and civil society to demand transparency and hold duty-bearers accountable with the following expected key results:
Key Result 1: Enhanced democratic processes through support to key actors including national institutions.
Key Result 2: Capacity of citizens, civil society and accountability bodies to demand transparency and accountability from duty bearers is enhanced.

To increase access to justice for all, especially women and the poor with the following expected key results:
Key Result 3: Coordination within the criminal justice system is improved.
Key Result 4: Access to civil and criminal justice for vulnerable groups in both the formal and informal systems is increased.

Several strategies have been used to deliver messages to members of the community and these include:

Human Rights Based Approach to Development (RBA/HURAP)
Training for Transformation (TfT),
Civic and voter education,
REFLECT (Regenerated Freirean Literacy through Empowering Community Techniques),Open Space Technology
Learner-centred, Problem-posing, Self-discovery and Action-oriented (LePSA)
Appreciative Enquiry,
Citizen Report Card/Local Governance Barometer (Malawian version),
and
STAR (participatory methodology from Stepping Stones and Reflect).

The expected results from the activities implemented in this programme estimate are:

Result 1: Democratic governance in Malawi strengthened

Result 2: Capacity of citizens, civil society and accountability bodies to demand transparency and accountability from duty bearers enhanced

Result 3: Access to justice for vulnerable groups in both formal and informal systems improved

Result 4: Capacity of NICE in performance monitoring, knowledge management and governance systems strengthened.

The best practice below is one example of a case study of a community that has benefited from Chilungamo programme under result area number one mainly where the ability of Citizens to engage elected leaders was enhanced as such they were able to invite their Ward Councillor to a development meeting, demanded upgrading of their School to a full primary School and worked together with their Ward councillor until their dream of having a full primary school from which children werebeing selected to secondary School came to pass. The Ward Councillor was responsive enough, enganged relevant education sector authorities and until the school turned into a full primary School and children started getting selected to secondary School after being a Junior Primary School for so many years.

The Case Study

Title: Civic engagement key to good governance and development

Topic: Empowered citizens realise fruits of their effort – a case of

Gvh Galafa, TA Makoko.

Area profile

One of the communities where NICE Nsanje facilitated a process that is bringing the desired change people wanted is GVH Galafa, TA Makoko, in Chekerere ward of Nsanje South West Constituency some 60km South West of Nsanje Boma.

Problem analysis

The district development plan for Nsanje acknowledges that one of the development challenges faced in the district is poor governance and community participation. This issue did not spare the area of GVH Galafa TA Makoko where a rapid assessment of needs confirmed that people had limited knowledge and understanding of principles of democracy and good governance, roles of elected leaders like ward councillor and Member of Parliament as well as roles of citizens themselves vis-à-vis development.

Consequently, people of this area could not demand development from relevant duty bearers and service providers as they did not have much information and knowledge to develop skills and confidence to engage duty bearers and service providers and ensure that they serve them better in a transparent and accountable manner. This worsened their poverty level as they do not have adequate basic amenities like school blocks, boreholes and a clinic. To make matters worse, Mbale School had classes up to standard six for more than 8 years and when pupils reached standard six, they considered themselves to have completed their primary school education because the next full primary Schools were some 15km away.

Looking at Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), countries including Malawi are urged to reverse such trends. For example goal number one says: ‘end poverty in all its forms everywhere.’ Goal number four states that: ‘ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all,’ while Goal number 16 emphasises on the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provision of access to justice for all and build effective accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Even the Malawi constitution section 30(1) says everybody has a right to development while (2) says the state has to ensure realization of the right to development by all by seeing to it that there is equality of opportunities for all in their access to basic resources like education and water.

The Government of Malawi identified five key priority areas for development for the next five years through the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) III of 2017-2022 which if executed would contribute to the attainment of the SDGs. The key priority areas include:

Agriculture, Water Development and Climate Change Management.
Education and Skills Development
Energy Industry and Tourism Development
Transport and ICT Infrastructure
Health and Population.

Apart from the five priority areas, the government recognizes that cross cutting areas like governance are equally important for successful implementation of Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) III of 2017-2022 and to achieve the aspirations of Vision 2020 which will expire within the implementation period of this strategy. ‘An educated and skilled population will help Malawi achieve accelerated economic growth and attainment of the SDGs. Malawi needs to improve the transition rate from primary to secondary and from secondary to tertiary level if it is to create a pool of educated and skilled labour force that can meaningfully contribute to the socio-economic development of the country’.

Bearing in mind the vision of NICE, ‘An informed empowered and transformed Malawian society that actively participates in public life’ and the overall objective which is contributing to the strengthening of democracy and good governance in Malawi for accelerated economic growth and poverty reduction, NICE Nsanje planned a series of activities in the area of GVH Galafa to enlighten the people on principles of democracy and good governance, roles of elected leaders and citizens themselves in development in an effort to complement government efforts to reduce poverty and achieve the sustainable development goals through promotion of democratic principles and good governance.

Intervention process

On 13^th October 2014, an activity was facilitated in the area to establish levels of knowledge on principles of democracy and good governance, roles of Ward councillor and Member of Parliament (MP) as well as governance needs for the community members to have their problems addressed. The knowledge gap and governance challenges were identified. The community members could not explain fully the principles of democracy and good governance as well as the roles of the elected leaders even their own roles as citizens to engage the duty bearers. The activity began the process of filling the knowledge gaps and addressing the governance issues. The priority for the people of Galafa was that standard seven should be introduced at Mbale Primary School for their children to proceed with education and be selected to secondary schools. At the end of the activity, the community members asked NICE to support them to organize another public meeting for them to interface with their ward councillor and MP.

On 17^th November 2014 the Community members organized the meeting in collaboration with NICE Nsanje and the Ward Councillor attended. Citizens of Galafa discussed their development challenges with the Ward Councillor and the ward Councillor took note of the priority for the community of wanting standard Seven to be introduced at Mbale Primary School despite the School having limited classrooms and teachers.

The ward Councillor was responsive enough to discuss with Primary Education Advisor PEA for the area in the same week and the District Education Manager (DEM) and standard seven was introduced at the School. In 2015 the students proceeded to standard 8 and wrote their examinations in 2016. None of the pupils who sat for standard 8 exams were selected to secondary School because the Pupil/Teacher ratio was not balancing. There were three teachers including the head teacher at the school against 8 classes.

Using the knowledge and skills the community got from NICE in Nsanje district, they engaged the office of the DEM through their ward Councillor asking him to send some more teachers to the School in 2016 and 2017. Three more teachers were posted to the school. When Primary School examination results were out for 2017, 12 pupils were selected to various secondary schools and the community is ever thankful to NICE for supporting them to have their needs addressed through promotion of democratic and good governance principles. One of the community members, Innocent Tchapo, said “Ana analemba mayeso ndi 44 osankhidwa ndi 12 amuna 7 akazi 5. Komanso talandira uthenga kuti aphunzitsi enanso akubwera owonjezera. Anthu tikunyadila ndikuthokoza NICE chifukwa cha ntchito yabwinoyi”.

It should be mentioned here that, much as the school has been upgraded to have standard 8, there is more that must be done in term of infrastructure development at the school. The upgrade has come with another challenge where learners are now learning under trees since it does not have adequate classrooms to meet the current demand for more classrooms.

The actions taken by citizens of Galafa were in tandem with the Strategic Plan of NICE 2015-2019 as well as the Strategic Pillars and Strategic Objectives in particular Strategic Pillar number 3 ‘Participation in Public life’ Strategic Objective 5 ‘To empower, mobilize and enhance awareness of citizens duties and responsibilities, among Malawians by 2019.’ It was also in line with Strategic objective 1, ‘Demand side of governance (Transparency and Accountability)

Achievements

After being enlightened on the principles of democracy and good governance, roles of elected leaders and citizens in development, citizens of GVH Galafa used the knowledge and skills gained to demand the development they wanted from their ward Councillor to ensure their right to development as stated in section 30 of the constitution is respected.This is part of active citizen participation in development.
When the Ward Councillor was asked by people of GVH Galafa to have an interface meeting with him to discuss development issues, he responded positively by attending the meeting and taking note of the concerns of the people and acting on them.
When the PEA and DEM (Appointed leaders) were approached to introduce STD 7 at Mbale School they responded positively by allowing introduction of the said class which led to Mbale being a full primary School.
When the DEM was asked to send more teachers to the School, he responded positively by sending three teachers to the School which led to selection of 12 pupils to various secondary Schools.
Through promotion of democratic and good governance principles and values the need of Galafa community to have their children proceed to secondary school was addressed. One of the community members, Innocent Tchapo, said “Ana analemba mayeso ndi 44 osankhidwa ndi 12 amuna 7 akazi 5. Komanso talandira uthenga kuti aphunzitsi enanso akubwera owonjezera. Anthu tikunyadila ndikuthokoza NICE chifukwa cha ntchito yabwinoyi”.

Challenges

The area is difficult to be reached such that the time we were going up the mountains with the ward councillor during the second activity we had a minor accident fortunately nobody got injured.

Crucial elements for success

Commitment of the Citizens of Galafa to continue using the knowledge and skills gained from NICE Nsanje to have their challenges addressed.
Commitment of Zone Coordinator to continue supporting the community members to engage the relevant duty bearers for their needs to be met.
Interest and commitment of DCEO to take Galafa community members through Civic Knowledge, Civic skills and civic engagement process which led to the desired change citizens wanted in the area.
Guidance sought from Regional Office and consultations with colleagues when in a fix.

Uniqueness of the intervention

People of GVH Galafa used the knowledge and skills gained from NICE Nsanje to engage the duty bearers at community and district levels which is the third and highest level in civic education process, actions were taken by the duty bearers and Citizens have started seeing the desired outcomes of their effort.