Hereunder are some highlights of our activities from inception to date

Activity

Donor

Output

Impact

Malawi Draft Land Reform Policy

Concerned citizens

Heightened public awareness & debate on salient features

Increased dialogue between stakeholders

Surtax Bill

Chamber of Commerce

Analysis (VAT) for Parliamentary Committee on Budget & Finance

Recommendations contained therein were incorporated

Blantyre City Rates Workshop

Chamber of Commerce

Improved relations between City Assembly & Rate payers

Some inherent misunderstandings on city rates were cleared

World Trade Organisation

Chamber of Commerce

Malawi Civil Society proposals to WTO talks in Cancun

Coherent cohesion for Malawian Civil Society at WTO talks

Anti-dumping Legislation

Chamber of Commerce

Task Force member to scrutinise and advise on Malawi’s Anti-dumping laws

Grey areas of the law were rectified

Extended Surtax Effects Review Workshop

Malawi Government (Min. of Finance)

Evaluation of commodity price and revenue effects of Surtax (VAT)

Created awareness on the negative effects of the extended Surtax

Conflict Management Skills

Centre for Conflict Resolution

Training for Academic & Technical staff (UNIMA)

Reduced conflicts among these stakeholders

Right to Livelihood

UNDP/DCP

Production of posters, Employment record book

Created awareness on fair wages and conditions for rural estate workers

Lecture series on Constitutionalism

Konrad Adenauer Foundation

Papers for publication

Generated wide public discussions & documents for a Constitutional review process in future.

Building Bridges between Parliament & Civil Society

GTZ Forum for Dialogue & Peace

A report of proceedings & findings + action plan to implement resolutions.

Better understanding and dialogue between M.P.s and all Stakeholders leading to a common desire to improve relationships

Election lessons learned from SADC region

GTZ & ACCORD (from S.A.)

A report of proceedings & findings + action plan.

Greater awareness of the potential for violence in upcoming general elections.

Building Bridges between Trade Unions, The State & Employers.

Royal Netherlands Consulate + VCPS (a Dutch Trade Union)

A report of proceedings & implementation of resolutions

Hailed as a milestone in Labour relations in Malawi. Built better understanding and harmony between all stakeholders.

Consultation between Trade Unions & National Presidential Candidates

Royal Netherlands Consulate

Questions & Dialogue on the need to improve labour rights

Improved understanding & communication between Trade Union and Political Leaders

A Citizens’ Guide to the National Budget

With ECAMA /SOCAM /IDASA, funded by CIDA

A simplified manual on National budget formulation, approval & oversight processes.

Improved understanding and participation in budgetary consultative processes by the citizenry

2004 General Elections

Centre for Social Research

Observed the General Elections

Issued report on electoral management processes

Transforming the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC)

MISEREOR

Engaged stakeholders on anomalies in Electoral laws & composition of MEC

Issued report & set up a Task Team that to design a new draft law for tabling in Parliament

New M. P. s and National Budget

With ECAMA & SOCAM funded by CIDA

Training new M. P. s on budgetary processes

Improved participation in budgetary processes by MPs in Parliament

Round Table Dinner Debate

Institute of Federalism (Swiss)

Opened dialogue between M.P.s & Councillors on contentious issues

Improved rapport, co-operation and resolve to find solutions between the two groups.

Right to Livelihood

Democracy Consolidation Program (DCP)

Imparting labour rights to rural masses through song, dance, drama and presentations.

Produced Labour Record Cards with Labour legislation featured on the back cover - for free distribution

Constitutional Review

Self

Prepared paper on constitutional issues

Presentations to various fora with the Law Commission

Parliamentary Monitoring

Institute of Federalism (Swiss)

Established an observer team in Parliament.

Production of reports for parliamentary research and a layman’s “Hansard”

Parliamentary Support

DFID

Facilitated a reform w/shop for Joint Committees of Parliament

Produced an action matrix & resolutions for greater Parliamentary autonomy.

Electoral System reform

International IDEA

Represented Malawi at SADC Parliamentary Forum Conference in Botswana

Expressed civil society perspectives on flaws in majoritarian electoral systems .

Electoral Reform

Electoral Institute of Southern Africa

Presented an analysis on majoritarian/ PR/and semi PR systems

Raised M.P.’s awareness on the options that exist for Malawi’s electoral future.

MTL Privatisation

Action Aid

Facilitated a meeting of M.P.s and CSOs

Disseminated vital info on MTL and sensitised M.P.s on the ramifications of the privatisation

Building Bridges

IFF Swiss

Convened a meeting between Women’s Parliamentary Caucus and CSO counterparts

Established grounds for understanding, tolerance and dialogue between participants

Employment Rights

Democracy Consolidation Program

Held a meeting of Tea Estate Employers with Labour Officers from Mulanje/Thyolo

Introduced the Employment Record Book, and convinced them to adopt it

HIV/AIDS Info Survey

PlusNews (Irin)

Researched the dissemination & impact of HIV awareness materials at grassroots and upper sections of society.

Collected valuable data and insights into the relevance of current HIV informational materials and the efficacy of methodology used in dissemination.

Constitutional Review Conference

The Law Commission

Presentation on sanctity of the Constitution & lack of penalties for violations

Revealed oversights in the Preamble signifying lack of ownership and the need for punitive measures to deter violators.

Employment Rights

Democracy Consolidation Program

Held a meeting of Tobacco Estate Employers with Labour Officers from Kasungu

Introduced the Employment Record Book and convinced them to adopt it

HIV Research

Institute for Global Dialogue

Research

A paper on Strategic Responses to the HIV/AIDS Pandemic

Presentation

SOCAM – ECSAFA Conference

Presented a paper at Sun ‘n Sand - Mangochi

“The Collective Role of The Government and Opposition in Ensuring Economic Growth

Peace Building Conference

CSVR – South Africa

Participated in Regional Peace Builders Conference in Johannesburg

Developed a cohesive and coherent way forward strategy towards greater regional collaboration.

Presentation

Scotland - Malawi Partnership AGM

Presented the key note address in Edinburgh - Scotland

MALAWI -An Overview of the Social, Economic and Political Landscape

Parliament

Institute for Federalism (Swiss)

Attended the Parliamentary Session as Observer

Prepared an observer report capturing, in simple language, the nuances that would not appear in the Hansard

Bill for the Declaration of Assets by Public Officer

Malawi Law Commission

Part of a team to translate constitutional provisions into legislation

Addressed methodology for reportage, widened the scope of the proposed bill – work in progress

Constitutional Review

Malawi Law Commission

Participated in the Constitutional Review Conference

Reviewed recommendations from the Special Task Force and submitted inputs on the proposals to amend the Constitution of Malawi