INTER PARES Partnership with the National Assembly of Malawi (Round II)

Partnership with the National Assembly of Malawi was announced in January 2020 and concluded in 2022.

Activities

• Working Group 1 on Budgetary Oversight (met 8 times between 2021 and 2022):

WG1 on Budgetary Oversight met twice in January and February 2021 and focused on sharing general guidelines and practices for the delivery of high-quality products and services to MPs, and on developing specific budget products. It continued to meet throughout April – June to share experiences on how to effectively monitor expenditure through objective analysis; as well as how to effectively communicate data and analysis through relevant visualisation tools in an accessible manner. On
2 September, the WG focused on the development of an economics newsletter, with the Czech model presented by the Director of the Czech Parliamentary Institute.

• Working Group 2 on Research (met 6 times between 2021 and 2022):

The Research WG kickstarted its activities in May 2021, focusing on strengthening the research department’s operational structure, while building the capacity of the staff to conduct high-quality, independent, and impartial research and analysis, and conducting a review and update of the existing Research Manual. In September, the WG discussed the draft template of the newly created Research Monthly Digest, produced by the Research Service on the model showcased by the Czech Parliamentary Institute. The Digest is expected to be a new product for MPs and staff
published regularly by the Research Service.

• WorkingGroup3onCommunicationsandCivicEducation (met 4 times between 2021 and 2022):

The Communication and Civic Education WG met regularly in the first half of 2021 and addressed a series of focus areas, from insights into the development of an information centre and discussions on enhancing the civic education programme to
introducing livestreamed guided tours and developing a communications plan forthe Parliament of Malawi.

• Study Visit to the Czech Parliament working groups on Budget, Research and Communications of the National Assembly of Malawi (September 2022):

Following on from the substantial virtual work carried out in 2021 and early 2022, a five-day study visit of 11 parliamentary staff from the National Assembly of Malawi took place at the Czech Chamber of Deputies in Prague, between 19-23 September 2022. The in-person exchanges generated such substantive dialogue, practical work and development of knowledge and materials, from the development of a leaflet about the Parliamentary Budget Office of the National Assembly, the finalisation of a Research Digest template and review of research manual to the development of a template to develop communication materials and guidelines for civic education activities.

Outcomes

1. Strengthened capacity of the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), ensuring parliament and committees can effectively scrutinise the budget and monitor expenditure through objective analysis.

2. Strengthened capacity of the Research Department to conduct high-quality, independent and impartial research and analysis; and developing new tools and partnerships to support the department in its work.

3. Strengthened and expanded communication with citizens, as well as the civic education programme of the National Assembly

4. 100% of participants showed satisfaction with the quality of the programme and 100% of staff respondents said they will be able to apply the knowledge received in their day-to-day work.