By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, March 30, Mana Director of Planning and Development for Nkhotakota District Council, Davis Kavalo, has praised Nkhata Bay District Council for its efficient and timely payment of wages to Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works (CSE-PWP) participants.

Kavalo made the remarks Friday during a CS-EPWP learning visit aimed at facilitating experience sharing among Nkhotakota, Nkhata Bay, and Dowa District Councils, organized by the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC).

 He noted that Nkhotakota often struggles with payments to participants but expects improvements following the knowledge gained from the visit.

"We have learned the skills and strategies that Nkhata Bay uses, such as working closely with digitizers and intensified supervision.

 "We will apply these back home, and surely things will improve," he said.

Kavalo also commended Nkhata Bay's approach to packaging interventions in one area, which gives hope to farm owners of improved harvests.

 Land Resources Officer for Dowa, Damasoni Mhone, highlighted cross-cutting issues observed during the visit, emphasizing the need for improved coordination among farmers, extension workers, and the District Environmental Sub Committee (DESC).

"We can say that Nkhata is winning in terms of soil conservation. However, we have cross-cutting issues that we must all improve on, like the way we coordinate our activities," he said.

In his remarks, District Commissioner for Nkhata Bay District Council, Rodgers Newa, described the visit as an eye-opener as they have leant a number of things from their colleagues.

"As we wait to transition to electronic payment, our friends have shared with us the benefits they've already started enjoying through this system and the little challenges they face among other things

"This has given us the energy to keep improving in the way we implement subsequent cycles of the program ahead."

NLGFC cluster coordinator for the Northern Region, Duncan Magwira, emphasized that the learning visits are arranged not for councils to compete but to share knowledge

CS-EPWP is being implemented across the country through the National Local Government Finance Committee with financial support from World Bank and Multi-Donor Trust Fund.