Contextual Analysis, Malawi:

(PRSP outlook...) (PRSP outlook...)byby

Dalitso Kingsley KubalasaDalitso Kingsley KubalasaProgramme Manager,Programme Manager,

Malawi Economic Justice NetworkMalawi Economic Justice Networkdkubalasa@mejn.mwdkubalasa@mejn.mw

Sustaining Participation in Poverty Reduction Strategies

Labadi Beach hotel, Accra, Ghana

2nd May 2005

Who? Why? What? Who we are (our values)

MEJN, Economic Governance focus (Organisational brief) Our values

Strength in unity of our members A holy anger at the injustice and suffering of the poor A spirit of selfless service, not what-is-in-it-for-us A belief in the power of people to change the situation Reckless courage and determination to overcome insults, opposition, abandonment and

resource scarcity A learning adventure to put theory into practice

Why am I here? Malawi’s Contextual Analysis sharing: PRSP participation

Pre-Formulation Formulation Post-Formulation

Setting the morale for Stakeholders’ proactive engagement towards sustaining the agenda as key players

What we do Budget / Policy Analysis & Popularization PRSP/Budget Monitoring: Evidence-based Advocacy through Participatory

Research & Dissemination Capacity Building (Economic Literacy & Budget Literacy cum Budget

Participation Initiative)… …

Presentation Outline

Introduction: stepping up the debate Poverty Reduction concept Advent Influencing Governance Big Questions around PRSP

successes… Challenges & Consensus Building

Introduction: The Paper

Malawi perspective: Overview: Debate on PRSP (processes

and impact) Formulation Implementation Policy influence

Civil Society background

Synergies and collaboration are key to success - reduce risk of achieving nothing by trying to do ‘everything’

Network mandate: Civil Society Division of labor concept Networking for max. coverage (monitoring & empowerment)

Local level; District Chapters establishment; conduits of infor. & empowerment programmes to grassroots/decentralized local level structures

National level; Sister sectoral-specific networks’ close collaboration I.e. CISANET, CSCQBE, MHEN… and other stakeholders (Govt., Donors, Parliamentary Committees e.g. Budget & Finance, Education, Health…

PRSP Advent - Participation? PRE-FORMULATION – 1999 2000

Jubilee Debt Cancellation Campaign Regional support: AFRODAD, JSA; Mw mobilization >20,000 signatures…, Total debt cancellation not granted

(Okinawa Conference in Japan, 1998) Debt relief opted for. Malawi eligible for HIPC 2.

FORMULATION – 2000 to 2002; First challenge (MEJN) - coordination of CS input in

MPRSP formulation Coordination desk set-up by CSOs Assembly Agreed campaign change of focus; Economic Justice

A broader economic scope mandated (desk name change to Malawi Economic Justice Network, MEJN).

National Policy Formulation and Implementation Economic & Budget Literacy capacity of CSOs

Formulation cont’d

Challenges … Acceptance/suspicions; ‘helicopter consultatns’ –

rushed process?? CS Success stories

Lobbying for extension of formulation period to September 2001 and wider representation of CSOs in TWGs;

Ability to advance CS concerns through TWGs. Consolidation of TWG papers into MPRS, ( rafting

team was put in place by the Malawi government. ) Successful lobbying for CS places in the team - 4 reps

admitted into a team of 15 members. Feedback to the wider civil society, through

organised national workshops (MEJN) Civil society critiqued MPRS drafts Recommendations were presented to the lead govt.

Ministry of Economic Planning and Development (MEPD).

Final MPRSP launched in April 2002.

POST-FORMULATION Translating PRSP into National Budget

PPEs streamlined (sectoral priorities Ring-fencing – “protected” by govt Budget Participation Initiative (Budget Literacy)

Assemblies; CSOs; Grass roots – roles and rights (budget formulation & submissions)

Monitoring the implementation (PRSP/Budget) Independent monitoring of performance (CS), SDSS for

PPEs Outcomes, Budget tracking by sectoral-specific networks

Joint (Govt, NSO, CS – PETS) Reviews

Analyses (Budget) – CS and Pvt. Sector Assessing govt’s compliance in allocations (PPEs…)

Annual Reviews (PRS) Assessing compatibility and adaptability to policy

environment Awareness and Advocacy

Hope?? Critical PRSP Reviews Why critical…

To assess the performance of the MPRS and its linkage to the annual budget

To assess the progress made in relation to policies and reforms critical for the implementation of the MPRS

Review the performance of cross cutting issues of the MPRS,

Review monitoring arrangements and existing efforts made during the implementation of the MPRS on monitoring.

Lessons and Experiences

Hope cont’d??What goes…

Closure of resource drainage taps (PRUDENT Public Financial Mgt) i.e. Procurement, Management, etc

Strict enforcement of three legislations; PFMA, PAA & PPA New opportunities in political will?

Zero tolerance on Corruption Strengthened independent Budget Monitoring

Input, output & outcome by CSO networks Links to Portfolio Committees; Evidence based advocacy: SDSS I & II, other

sectoral initiatives Continued health engagement & collaboration

(constituency and national/committee levels)… Civil Society willingness and enthusiasm to do more

citizens’ proactive roles, rights and responsibilities in community monitoring

Follow-up mechanisms Empowerment Policy analysis and popularization, etc

Opportunities Good social capital and positive rapport between

CSO leadership and Parliamentary portfolios, Govt (MoF, EP&D) – strengthened and maintained

Existence of a strong modicum of the ‘participant’ type of political culture due to grassroots' work of CSOs, FBO and CBOs… - strengthened policy debate & empowerment

Shared understanding of roles and responsibilities with increased interaction between stakeholders (Donors, Govt, Parliamentary committees and CSOs at all levels…)

Experience sharing and learning from within and from other parts of the world experience is the greatest teacher No need to always reinvent the wheel

Challenges: Big Questions Meaningful Partnerships (CSOs, Legislature,

Executive…: too close for comfort? Relations with government & official process: Co-

operation vs co-option Proper balance btwn Professionalism & objectivity Multiple roles of CSOs too busy with logframes…

Resources; Free more resources for Poverty Reduction Debt relief (bigger chunks freed for PR activities) FY 2003/4 budget: 30% debt servicing with a lesser %

covering Health, Education and Agriculture in total How should the proper balance be sustained (Econ.

Growth and social sector) Drawing out strengths, weaknesses, Opportunities and

Threats from Comp. Review to build towards 2nd generation PRS

Resources; resources; resources Who leads; who follows; who benefits?