Malawi LGAP Quarterly Report FY 2018, Quarter 2

The DDP process involved several stages, including consultation meetings at the Area Development Committee (ADC) level, consolidation of Village Action Plans (VAPs) at the District level, multiple stakeholders conferences, technical review by the District Executive Committee (DEC) and Development Committees, and final approval by the Full councils. LGAP provided mentoring support to Finance Directorates, facilitating the development of mentorship plans for finance personnel to track progress on mentorship, with a strong focus on individuals. LGAP also facilitated a Public Finance Management (PFM) workshop for finance personnel, which aimed to enhance their understanding of PFM principles and practices. The workshop covered topics such as budgeting, financial reporting, and internal audit. Additionally, LGAP supported the development of a District Development Planning Framework (DDPF) to guide the DDP process and ensure that it is aligned with the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) 111. In terms of Result Area 2, LGAP continued to strengthen demand for accountable government at the local level. This was achieved through the implementation of citizen participation in local government planning and policy development, social accountability and transparency of public expenditure management and service delivery, and the integration of USAID support in social accountability activities. LGAP also facilitated the development of a Social Accountability and Transparency (SAT) framework to guide the implementation of social accountability activities at the local level. Under Result Area 3, LGAP supported the improvement of the decentralization policy environment and systems. This was achieved through the support of select policies and legal reforms related to decentralization, public financial management systems, human resources and key management systems, and the coordination of USAID sectoral support for policy reforms. LGAP also facilitated the development of a Decentralization Policy Framework to guide the implementation of decentralization policies and reforms. In terms of sectoral activities, LGAP continued to support the education sector through the implementation of a Performance Management and Evaluation Plan (PMEP) to enhance the performance of schools and improve the quality of education. LGAP also supported the health sector through the implementation of a Health Sector Performance Management and Evaluation Plan (HSPMEP) to enhance the performance of health facilities and improve the quality of health services. Overall, LGAP made significant progress during the second quarter of 2017/18, achieving several outcomes and outputs towards the program's objectives. However, challenges in implementation and lessons learned were also identified, which will inform program priorities and adjustments to achieve the objectives moving forward.