Food security
The social protection policy in Malawi: processes, politics and challenges
Strengthening social protection in Malawi
Authors:
B. Chinsinga; Institute for Policy Research and Social Empowerment, Malawi
Publisher:
Wahenga, Regional Hunger and Vulnerability Programme, 2007
This paper analyses the evolution of Malawi's social protection policy which is nearing its completion. It is critical of the fact that there has been no accompanying nationwide debate and dialogue and puts forward the following possible explanations:
- the fact that social protection policy is being treated as a technical process
- the lack of capacity among government agencies to provide the necessary leadership; in particular, the quality of policy rapidly deteriorated after Malawi's change to a multiparty system. The President is now restoring a technocratic approach to policy making
It finds that Parliament and grass-roots levels were not represented in decisive committees due to perceived lack of capacity. This has led to international donors dominating the policy process and pushing for their own ideologically driven conceptions of social protection. On top of that, donor organisations have not been immune to short-termism, competitiveness and personality politics.
The author concludes that any formal safety net and risk reduction policy essentially needs commitment and credibility. It should be permanent, transparent and highly predictable. Therefore, there is an urgent need to invest in institutional strengthening and capacity building of government agencies. Also, stakeholder participation has to be broadened and institutionalised in order to ensure social ownership of the policy and sustainability of the resultant social protection programmes. Finally, the role of donors in the policy process needs to be clarified and coordinated.
