The Government of Malawi, with support from the European Union, announces the official launch of the Public Finance Management Reforms 'Chuma cha Dziko' Programme, to take place in Lilongwe at the BICC on 27^th February, 2020, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.

The Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Hon, Joseph Mwanamvekha, MP and the EU Ambassador to Malawi, Her Excellency Sandra Paesen, will grace the occasion.

Chuma cha Dziko Programme, was signed between the European Union and the Republic of Malawi on 9^th November 2019 and will be implemented over a period of five years. The total resource envelope for this programme is 22 million euros. ( i.e above MK17 billion).

The programme will provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Developmnet and its agencies, support to the Malawi Revenue Authority, and further build capacity of the academia, media and civil society. This programme will address key constraints to economic growth namely, corruption and taxation. It will also promote accountability and transparency in the use of public resources.

Specifically, with the help of this programme, the ministry will focus on public procurement and contract management, payroll and pension management, commitment to control debt management, parastatal financial management and oversight. The ministry will also focus on improving the tax system through interventions in revenue policy and revenue administration to increase the fiscal space for financing inclusive growth and development. The ministry will this time, balance the provision of technical expertise with an emphasis on facilitating change in procedures and behaviours.

Being a Public Finance Management Reform Programme, its implementation will involve a number of key government insititutions including Minsitry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), Public Procurement and Disposal of Assests Authority (PPDA), Office of the President and Cabinet (Government Contracting Unit) and the Department of Human Resources Management and Development (DHRMD).