The World Bank group has approved the 100 million 5 year GESD project. According to Anne Kabagambe Executive Director of Executive Board of Directors of the International Development Association (IDA), the approval was made on April 30, 2020 on an absence-of-objection basis in credit in the amount of US$100 million to the Republic of Malawi for a Malawi Governance to Enable Service Delivery Project.
The GESD project development objective is to “strengthen Local Authorities’ institutional performance, responsiveness to citizens and management of resources for service delivery”.
The project will finance performance-based grants to the 28 District Local Authorities to deliver priority development projects that enhance service delivery. The results-based approach will incentivize effective and accountable performance of Local Authorities with a focus on three core functions:
- Delivery of quality development projects that are responsive to local needs;
- Accountable management of public financial resources; and
- Effective management of frontline service delivery staff.
The project will further finance reforms and capacity to strengthen the role of the central government in:
- Implementing an effective and transparent fiscal decentralization system;
- Closing the publicfinancial accountability loop through audit;
- Filling critical human resource gaps in Local Authorities; and
- Providing effective policy guidance, capacity building and oversight to Local Authorities.
Speaking to the NLGFC Newsletter Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Hon. Joseph Mwanamvekha welcomed the approval saying it is another mark of confidence by the World Bank in Financial policies championed by the Government of His Excellency the President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika.
Mwanamvekha said Government will make sure that the objectives of the project are realised.
The GESD project will be implemented by the NLGFC in all 28 Local Councils.
