This month, stakeholders from civil society and integrity institutions have been making significant strides in promoting good governance and accountability in Malawi. Part of the CADRE GFP Project, two workshops held in Lilongwe brought together key stakeholders to address critical aspects of public financial management. The focus? Strengthening partnerships between accountability actors and equipping civil society actors to utilize tools to drive transparency and accountability.

Learn more about the outputs and highlights by reading a summary of the takeaways from both workshops below:

Workshop 1: Framework for National Audit Office and Civil Society Collaboration   (November 4–8, 2024)
The first workshop aimed to develop a framework to enhance collaboration between the Malawian National Audit Office (NAO) and civil society organisations (CSOs). Building on insights gathered from a previous joint workshop held in Lusaka, Zambia, participants from both the NAO and key CSOs in Malawi crafted a draft framework outlining principles, roles, and strategies for sustained engagement between the NAO and CSOs.

Key Takeaways:

• Comprehensive Framework: Participants outlined roles, responsibilities, and methods for CSOs to effectively engage in audits

• Practical Strategies: Discussions highlighted the importance of legal, institutional, and ICT considerations to support collaboration

• Global Best Practices: Case studies provided by Transparency International and IDI enriched the framework with proven strategies

Workshop 2: Building CSO Capacity to Track Audit Recommendations (November 11–13) This follow-up workshop tackled another pressing issue for SAIs: the effective implementation of recommendations from the Auditor General’s report. It focused on equipping CSOs with skills to analyse, track, and advocate for the adoption of these recommendations.

Key Takeaways:

• Enhanced Skills: Participants gained the ability to dissect an audit report and monitor the progress of its recommendations

• Advocacy and Communication: Sessions emphasized crafting impactful strategies to engage stakeholders and drive accountability

• Collaborative Networks: The workshop fostered partnerships among CSOs, creating a united front to follow up on audit recommendations

The Broader Impact
These workshops are a testament to the power of collaboration in governance. Attended by global leaders in the transparency space, such as Transparency International, and key CSOs in Malawi, such as Basel Institute on Governance, the Initiative for Climate Action and Development (ICAD), African Institute of Corporate Citizenship, and Malawi Economic Justice Network, the information shared will empower CSOs to strengthen their partnerships with the NAO. Indeed, Malawi is taking bold steps towards a more transparent and accountable use of public resources and is better enabling stakeholders to engage in the budget cycle.

Looking Ahead
The momentum generated by these workshops is just the beginning. The draft collaboration framework and CSO advocacy strategies, as part of the ongoing CADRE GFP project, will be refined and implemented in 2025, ensuring lasting impact. Malawi’s journey in transparency and accountability continues to offer valuable lessons for other stakeholders involved in building stronger and more united integrity systems.

Join the Conversation
How can we further promote collaboration and accountability in public audits? Learn more about the CADRE GFP project here.