Strengthening Capacity for Democratic and Economic Governance in Malawi

Project title: Strengthening Capacity for Democratic and Economic Governance in Malawi.

Background

The introduction of multiparty elections in 1994 – after almost four decades of dictatorship – gave hope for Malawians that democracy would be better able to tackle widespread inequalities in power and wealth and bring about the necessary human freedoms and meaningful economic development. There was in particular an expectation that the delivery of public services would be made more efficient and better targeted through active citizenship. Today, however, the legacies of the one party dictatorial regime still haunt the country, denying rights and liberties for the large majority of rural poor. Malawi continues to be an “electoral democracy”, where elections are held regularly, but without the resulting growth and consolidation of democratic institutions.

Strengthened capacity for democratic and economic development

Chancellor College at the University of Malawi, and the University of Oslo will jointly build and strengthen teaching, research, and administrative and infrastructural capacity at Chancellor College to help build a critical mass of more and better qualified Malawians who can effectively engage with political and economic elites and policymakers, and thereby influence decision-making processes related to democratic and economic governance.

Outreach and dissemination activities

The project will actively apply a results-based approach that focuses on actual development benefits occurring at local village and districts level. Village consultative forums and stakeholder workshops are aimed at channelling the aggregated voice of the grassroots into education, research and policy briefs, and provide villagers and their local representatives with greater influence over public policy formulation and implementation.

Key goals and achievements

Overall goal: Strengthened capacity for democratic and economic development in Malawi. Staff and students at Chancellor College acquire knowledge, attitudes and higher level skills in public management and research for development.

The objectives of the project are:

1. Well-qualified and highly competent managers in the public service.
2. Academic staff with strengthened formal qualification reflecting a high level of analytical academic and research skills and international exposure and experience in relation to teaching and publications.
3. Chancellor College contributes to evidence-based policy and decision-making capacity in the government of Malawi.
4. Women student and staff at Chancellor College are participating equally with male colleagues in academic and administrative work.
5. Villagers and their local representatives exercise influence over public policy formulation and implementation.
6. Knowledge transferred South-North networks and partnerships.