11.3: Decentralization
The long-term goal is to enhance decision-making and participation of local communities in development planning and implementation. Other Information:
Malawi recognizes local Governments as key to national development and good governance. The objective is to devolve central
Government powers, functions and resources to Malawians through their local authorities known as assemblies. This approach
is enshrined in the Decentralisation Policy (1998) and is backed by the Local Government Act (1998). The implementation of
the programme since 2001 has through democracy for effective popular participation and decision making in the development
process should continue... Medium-Term Expected Outcomes: In the medium term, it is expected that local assemblies will have
full control of the process of development planning. It is also expected that there will be improvement in community participation,
efficient accountability, good governance systems, vibrant monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems, clear and strengthened
linkages of various policy reforms, and reduced conflicts of roles among various stakeholders at the district level. met a
number of constraints, which have slowed down the progress. These include weak, poor and ineffective linkages between decentralization
policy and other public policy reforms, persistent power struggle and conflicts of roles between elected members such as Members
of Parliament, Councillors and Traditional Authorities; weak institutional capacity, high turn over of key staff like accountants,
economists and other specialists, ineffective participation of the local communities due to lack of information, knowledge
and skills, and inadequate financial resources among others. However, with the advent of popular democracy and the fact that
over 80.0 percent of the population resides in rural areas, it is still necessary that empowerment of people
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