By Evance Chisiano

Blantyre, December 13, Mana: National Local Government Committee (NLGFC) has awarded six local authorities with certificates of recognition for outstanding performance under Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) and Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP).

The certificates presentation took place on Friday at Crossroads Hotel in Blantyre where the six councils namely: Karonga, Mbelwa, Nkhata Bay, Lilongwe, Chiradzulu and Nsanje met to also review Social Support Resilience Livelihood Project (SSRLP) in their respective districts.

NLGFC Executive Director, Dr. Kondwani Santhe said the six districts deserved the recognition following their outstanding performances in various areas of interventions under the two social protection programmes that are meant to improve people’s livelihoods.

The six districts were recognized  after success completion of re targeting in the SCTP, outstanding performance in grievance redress mechanism  (GRM) reporting under SCTP, outstanding performance in processing wages in the SC-EPWP, outstanding performance in CS-EPWP phases, best performance in Know Your Customer processes under SCTP and outstanding performance in processing electronic payment (e-payment) under the CS-EPWP.

In the category of SCTP, Karonga District Council was awarded a certificate of recognition for an outstand performance in Know Your Customer (KYC) processes under the SCTP while Nsanje District Council emerged an outstanding performer after achieving 99 per cent completion on re targeting under the SCTP. 

Chiradzulu also got recognition for being an outstanding performer in GRM reporting under the SCTP with effective community and district level structures in place.

Under CS-EPWP, Mbelwa District Council was awarded a certificate of recognition for outstanding performance in processing manual wages within stipulated time as Lilongwe District Council also got a certificate of recognition for being a star performer in processing electronic payment, proving efficiency within shortest time in paying CS-EPWP participants.

According to NLGFC, Lilongwe is one of the ten districts that have migrated from manual payment to e-payment in CS-EPWP while the rest of the districts are yet to migrate to the electronic mode of payment.

Nkhata Bay District Council came on top as best performer in implementing CS-EPWP phases with remarkable efficiency within agreed time of completion of phase 3.

Dr. Santhe stated that there was sufficient evidence to show that the best-performing district demonstrated strong coordination and a commitment to service delivery, prioritizing the effective implementation of the two social protection programs.

World Bank Mission Task Team Leader for SSRLP, Chipo Nsowoya said the World Bank and other Social Protection Multi Donor Trust Fund partners were impressed with implementation of the social support programmes in Malawi though there was need to improve in some areas.

“There is need to improve on delayed wage payment. We are ready to discuss with Government of Malawi to see how best we can address this problem,” he added.     

Representing Nsanje District Council, Chief Education Officer, Mashades Dakamao said dedication to service delivery plus abiding by the guidelines of NLGFC were some of the contributing factors that brought the outstanding performance in the implementation of SCRP.

“The certificate of recognition we have received will motivate us to maintain the standards. We will maintain this,” he added.

CS-EPWP is a component of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Project supported by the Bank and the Social Protection Multi donor Trust Fund.