The Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC) says the Dowa District Social Accountability Committee has a critical role in informing both community-level social accountability committees and the general public about the progress of development projects in their areas, aiming to promote transparency and accountability in public development efforts.
Noel Msiska, a capacity-building associate at MHRRC, made the remarks on Wednesday, 11 June, during a meeting organized by MHRRC held in Mponela, Dowa.
Msiska pointed out that in Dowa, there remains a significant gap, especially among marginalized groups such as women, youth, persons with disabilities, and ordinary community members, when it comes to monitoring how development funds are utilized. This gap, he noted, underscores the need for greater community engagement in development tracking.
One of the committee members, George Kaunda, welcomed the initiative by MHRRC, stating that it will empower community members to better understand their rights and actively participate in tracking development projects in the district.
Kaunda also emphasized the importance of collaboration, noting that promoting transparency and accountability requires teamwork among all relevant stakeholders.
MHRRC is currently implementing a project titled “Enhancing Citizen Participation in Local Governance and Development Processes,” which aims to address inequalities and improve civic engagement, and the project is being implemented in Dowa, Ntchisi, and Nsanje districts, with financial support from Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurchAid.
(By Boniface Selemani)