SDGCA expresses need for CSOs to monitor SADC programs

Malawi: The Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa (SDGCA) has said Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the country are needed to monitor Southern African Development Community (SADC) programmes in areas such as health and education if success is to be achieved.

Ambrose Rwaheru Aheisibwe (PhD), Regional Director of the SDGCA, stated that the regional body would fulfil its mandate through CSO monitoring of SADC programmes.

Said Aheisibwe: "CSOs have a significant role to play in advocacy and monitoring SADC programmes, primarily to ensure that the programmes are producing good results; this is consistent with the regional indicative and strategic plan for SADC, as well as the SADC region's Vision 2050."

“As a key stakeholder, CSOs should be able to monitor results and provide oversight to parliament to ensure that SADC delivers on its mandate.”

He also stated that his organisation will assist CSOs at the national level in their role of monitoring SADC programme implementation.

"One of the key issues reflected in the findings from CSO mapping and assessment is that CSOs have limitations when it comes to participating in SADC region integration," he continued.

"Another challenge that emerged strongly is CSOs' lack of awareness of SADC structures and the policy document."

In his remarks, Lucky Mbewe, Executive Director of one of the country's CSOs, the Centre for Youth Empowerment and Civic Education (CYECE), admitted that CSOs need to be educated on SADC programmes.

He said: "As civil society organisations in Malawi, we play a critical role in assisting the government in advancing its developmental agenda; thus, we need to be informed about the processes and structures involved in SADC programme implementation, whether in education, energy and mining, health, or human rights and democracy."

"Obviously, our participation in SADC integration would be jeopardised if we did not have adequate knowledge of such structures and processes.”