World Bank has provided K76 billion (USD 100 million) under Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) project to assist local authorities to implement various developmental projects that should benefit people in Malawi, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Lingson Belekanyama disclosed.

The minister said this on Tuesday in Blantyre during a sensitization meeting on revised Local Authority Performance Assessment (LAPA) and Performance- Based Grant (PBG).

Currently local councils receive an allocation of K3.2 billion annually through District Development Fund (DDF) which he said is not enough to adequately finance projects being implemented in districts.

“With the bottom up approach from the project, which will be effective 2021/22 financial year, it means councils will be getting a total sum of K17 billion annually,” the minister said.

He added that K3.2 billion will continue to be allocated on quarterly basis while K14 billion will be funded to councils annually.

Belekanyama therefore called on the local authorities to be innovative, accountable and transparent and further encouraged the authorities to properly manage resources effectively and efficiently to ensure quality service delivery.

He also disclosed that the ministry of local government will be conducting performance assessment appraisals of local authorities to check quality investments that respond to communities’ development aspirations.

Belekanyama emphasized on efficient mobilization, management and accountability of resources and service delivery in local authorities to meet expectations of right holders.

“The first performance assessment will be conducted next month and councils that will not meet required indicators, will not be able to access the funds until they have been trained on proper ultilisation of resources at local level,” he said.

In his remarks, District Commissioner for Mulanje, Stallich Mwambiwa described the sensitization meeting as a tool for helping local authorities to improve service delivery.

“The meeting has discussed a number of pertinent issues in line to LAPA and PBG and this is important because it will encourage councils to perform exceedingly well,” he added.

He said this will also help local authorities to benefit from the grant while delivering services efficiently and effectively,

Nsanje, Chikwawa, Mulanje and Neno council officials attended the sensitization meeting in Blantyre as other districts in the south are expected to attend similar meeting in Liwonde while those in the center and north are also expected to meet in Lilongwe and Mzuzu respectively.

GESD project will run for five years and is being implemented by Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Ministry of Finance, other partners and Local Authorities and National Local Government Finance Committee which is the secretariat.