Mwananchi Programme Malawi - Liu Lathu

The strategic approach of Liu Lathu is:

• strengthening the capacity of citizens to engage the state on performance, accountability and transparency of elected leaders;
• strengthening platforms and capacity for citizen participation in decision-making, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation;
• strengthening citizen capacity to access justice; and
• promoting dialogue and interaction between civil society, media, and elected representatives.

According to the Mwananchi Programme, the success of interventions to improve governance in Malawi depends on evidence-based identification of specific opportunities and limitations in governance institutions and processes, and informed appreciation of existing and past interventions in the area. The design and content of the programme is informed by the country’s governance context, as determined through a baseline survey of existing governance interventions identified through a systematic stock-taking of reported activities by various stakeholders in the sector. Consultations conducted in preparation for the programme revealed that current governance interventions in Malawi tend to focus on government institutions rather than their interactions with non-state actors, and that there is limited collaboration among the various governance actors, undermining their effectiveness. Liu Lathu, therefore, seeks to foster better relationships among the actors.

Although the programme is expected to have a national impact, implementation will be in six districts: Rumphi in the Northern region; Salima and Mchinji in the Central region; and Mwanza, Zomba and Phalombe in the Southern region. The districts were selected because they have not been targeted by many other governance programmes and because local partners expressed particular interest in these districts. Where governance programmes exist, however, Liu Lathu will work in close collaboration. This approach will not only avoid duplication of activities but also ensure the realisation of programme objectives and provide opportunities for cross learning.

Liu Lathu is being implemented through partnerships with key stakeholders, through a grant-making programme. For example, the Development Communications Trust received support to set up three radio listening clubs to bring the concerns of citizens to decision-makers. The clubs record citizens’ concerns on audio tape for presentation to duty bearers. With partner Women's Hope for Change, the Tilawilane Domestic Violence project is working with community-based volunteers, civil society organisations, the court, and the police, to improve understanding of domestic violence and to link it to human rights, as well as to follow fair procedures in administering justice for women.

Governance

Mwananchi's theory of change centres on citizens effectively expressing their views and interests and holding governments accountable for their actions at different levels in the governmental system. This includes three key participants. The first are the citizens (the "wananchi") or ordinary people. The second are the interlocutors, such as journalists, civil society organisations, and elected representatives, who are able to ‘broker’ citizens’ views and wishes in the policy process and form a link between governments and Wananchi. The third is the state. To increase the ability of civil society, media, elected representatives, and traditional leaders to enable citizens to effectively express their views and hold governments accountable, the programme seeks to sharpen the roles of civil society, media, elected representatives (MPs and councilors), and traditional leaders, strengthen partnerships between interlocutors for comparative advantage synergies, and increase the use of research-based evidence to influence government policies and engage citizens.