BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The National Advocacy Platform (NAP) has hailed the Government of Malawi for what it has described as a bold, visionary and long overdue decision to reform the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), describing the move as a milestone in promoting decentralisation, accountability and equitable development across the country.

In a statement jointly signed by NAP Chairperson Benedicto Kondowe and National Coordinator Baxton Nkhoma, the organisation commended the Minister of Local Government for unveiling a comprehensive reform package in Parliament under the theme “Power to the People: Rebuilding Local Leadership and Revamping the CDF for True Community Empowerment.”

NAP said the reforms signal a decisive departure from the past, where weak oversight and political interference often undermined effective local governance.

Among the key measures announced, government has increased CDF allocations from K200 million to K5 billion per constituency, a development NAP described as historic and transformative.

“This is the clearest signal yet of government’s commitment to fiscal devolution and its determination to bring development closer to the people, in line with the National Decentralisation Policy,” reads part of the statement.

The organisation further welcomed the new governance and management framework for the fund, which places District Commissioners and Chief Executive Officers at the centre of project oversight to ensure compliance with procurement, financial and contract management standards.

NAP also applauded the decision to make Village and Area Development Committees (VDCs and ADCs) central in identifying projects, saying the move restores true community ownership and bottom-up planning in local development.

Equally significant, the introduction of trained Project Implementation Committees (PICs) is expected to strengthen transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.

NAP said it is encouraged by government’s plan to craft robust new guidelines for the reformed CDF, which will outline clear institutional roles, enhance citizen participation and align implementation with public finance laws and oversight mechanisms.

“These reforms are a necessary corrective to years of politicisation, weak controls and elite capture of the CDF,” NAP observed.

“If fully implemented, they have the potential to transform the fund into a genuine driver of grassroots development, supporting schools, health facilities, water systems, roads, agriculture and youth and women empowerment initiatives,”NAP added.

The platform has since urged government to fast-track the finalisation and dissemination of the new CDF guidelines through inclusive consultations involving all stakeholders.

NAP also called for stronger audit and procurement systems, enhanced citizen oversight and full public disclosure of all CDF-funded projects and contracts to safeguard transparency and public trust.

NAP underscored the importance of merit-based recruitment and performance monitoring of VDCs and ADCs to ensure that they operate independently and effectively, free from political manipulation.

The organisation further urged adherence to the Public Finance Management Act, Public Audit Act, and the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets (PPDA) Act as key instruments in promoting accountability and prudent use of public resources.

The Maravi Post