The Malawi Economic Justice Network (Mejn) has said the involvement of rural people in the implementation of the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) III is critical to attaining set targets.
Mejn is implementing a five-year social accountability project titled ‘Enhancing Social Accountability for Better Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) III Development Results and Outcomes’ with funding from IM Swedish Development Partner.
The aim of the project is to enhance compliance and responsiveness by duty-bearers in the implementation of MGDS III for development results and outcomes which will translate into improved services for the country.
In an interview on the sidelines of a media orientation on MDGS in Salima, Mejn programme manager Bertha Phiri pointed out that sidelining rural people in the implementation of the strategy will lead to failure in achieving its goals.
Said Phiri: “Citizens, therefore, remain largely uninformed on such important national policy mandates and activities as ministries, departments and agencies [MDAs] remain less engaged as implementers.
“This has resulted in failure to make any meaningful and consolidated impact both at the local and national levels.”
She said Mejn has over the years strived to empower different stakeholders so that they are not only informed, but also take part in engaging duty-bearers and service providers on policies that affect their lives economically and socially.
Phiri also stressed the importance of equipping the media with knowledge about the strategy so that journalists can disseminate correct information.
MGDS was launched in 2018 by President Peter Mutharika under the theme ‘Building a Productive, Competitive and resilient Nation’.
The President emphasised the need to improve energy generation, improving transport and information communication technology infrastructure in the country.
The strategy covers a period of five years from 2017 to 2022 and is a successor document to MGDS II.
The objective of the strategy is to make Malawi a productive, competitive and resilient nation through sustainable agriculture and economic growth, energy, industrial and infrastructure development while addressing water, climate change, environmental management and population challenges.
