Commonwealth Parliamentary Association delivers seminar on budget scrutiny and oversight for the Parliament of Malawi as part of ongoing CPA technical assistance programme
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) has delivered a Seminar on Budget Scrutiny and Oversight for parliamentary staff at the Parliament of Malawi in Lilongwe from 6 to 7 April 2024. The Seminar was designed to equip parliamentary staff with new skills and knowledge in order to provide effective scrutiny and oversight of Government's budget.
The Seminar was delivered by two experts - Nicola Hudson, Head of Research and Financial Scrutiny at The Scottish Parliament and Alexander Knight, Head of Financial Scrutiny at the UK House of Commons Scrutiny Unit, accompanied by CPA Programmes Manager, Clive Barker.
The Seminar included sessions on Roles and Responsibilities in Oversight, The Budget Process in Malawi, Engaging Stakeholders in the Budget Process, Financial Reporting and Accountability, and Public Reporting in the Budget Process.
Participants at the CPA Seminar were welcomed by the First Deputy Speaker of the Malawi Parliament, Hon. Madalitso Kazombo, who said that effective scrutiny and implementation of the national budget needs skilled and knowledgeable Members and that the workshop will allow Members of the Budget and Finance Committee to strengthen their knowledge of the budget process and learn best practice from around the Commonwealth.
“Budget determines how public resources are allocated, setting the priorities that shape the trajectory of our societies and as representatives of the people, we must ensure that this process is transparent, accountable and reflective of the needs and aspirations of those we serve. Parliamentary oversight of the budget is not merely a formality; it is a crucial mechanism for upholding the principles of good governance and safeguarding the interests of citizens. Through rigorous scrutiny, analysis and debate, Parliamentarians play a pivotal role in ensuring that public funds are used effectively and efficiently to address the pressing challenges facing our communities.
This CPA Seminar has allowed our Parliament to strengthen its understanding of the importance of the budget process, learn best practices from around the Commonwealth and develop our Members and parliamentary staff through learning and development.”
The Seminar on Budget Scrutiny and Oversight was delivered as part of a CPA Technical Assistance Programme (TAP) implemented following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the CPA Headquarters and the Parliament of Malawi in October 2023. The CPA TAP will provide learning and development for upskilling the Legislature, its Members and parliamentary staff in several areas, including public engagement (Communications and Outreach) and post-legislative scrutiny.
In early 2023, the Parliament of Malawi undertook a self-assessment of the Legislature against the CPA’s Recommended Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures, resulting in an assessment report that provided 19 recommendations to strengthen the governance, independence, and administration of the Parliament. The initiatives being delivered as part of the CPA TAP will support the Parliament of Malawi to build the capacity of Members and staff in the key areas of focus identified during the self-assessment process and to implement the report’s recommendations.
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The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association connects, develops, promotes and supports Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and the implementation of the enduring values of the Commonwealth. The CPA is an international community of around 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.
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