ILO and Irish-Aid support development of social accountability tools
Ever since the formation of the Civil Society Social Protection Network (CSSPN) in May last year, Malawi has seemingly improved in its social accountability and efficiency in implementation of social protection programmes. Over 50 Civil Society Organisations in Malawi have formed the network to ensure transparency and effective delivery of social protection programmes.
8 July 2024
The International Labour Organization (ILO) through the ILO/Irish-Aid Regional Social Protection project with financial support from the Government of Ireland has been supporting in network in its activities.
This year, the network was funded to develop guidelines and tools which will be used to establish Social Accountability Mechanisms in the social protection sector.
A series of interventions such as social accountability tools development, pretesting of the tools, review of the tools and validation were conducted. The tools developed were a guide on establishment and implementation of social accountability mechanisms, complaints collection forms and complaints status forms which will be used at community, district and national levels.
On 8 July 2024, the network, with support from the ILO/Irish-Aid Regional Social Protection project held the Validation meeting.
Officiating the event, Deputy Director for Social Support Division, Mr. Laurent Kansinjiro applauded the network for developing the tools aimed at enhancing social accountability and efficiency in the implementation of social protection programmes in the country.
Mr. Kansinjiro has since appealed to development partners to provide financial support to the network, so that the tools and guidelines could be rolled out across the country.
“We need to support the network to make use of the tools and guidelines by establishing the systems at all levels to ensure both duty bearers and beneficiaries are accountability to each other. It is high time development partners support such initiatives. The communities cannot engage the government on an equal footing, unless supported by the civil society organizations,” said Mr. Kansinjiro.
The network is expected to pilot implementation of social accountability mechanisms using the guide which has been developed with technical and financial support from the ILO/Irish-Aid Regional Social Protection project.