The Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) Project has become effective – meaning that all conditions have been met to allow for the official commencement of implementation. This follows World Bank communication to Malawi Ministry of Finance on Wednesday 16, December, 2020.

In a memo, Mara Warwick, World Bank Country Director for Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe Eastern and Southern Africa Region refers to financing agreement between Republic of Malawi and International Development Association, dated November 5, 2020 for GESD and confirms conditions for effectiveness of Financing Agreement have been met.

The Governance to Enable Service Delivery Project seeks to capacitate 28 local councils in areas of financial management, development planning and budget and project management in Malawi over 5 years for effective and improved service delivery to residents. This will include the introduction of a new Performance Based Grant (PBG) beginning in the next fiscal year (FY 21/22).

GESD is a 100-million dollar project facilitated by Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Local Government and National Local Government Finance Committee as key lead partners. Other implementing partners include: Accountant General, Central Internal Audit Office, Ministry of Economic Planning and Development and Public Sector Reforms, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, National Audit Office, and Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority – in addition to key partnerships with Civil Society Actors.