The National Community Development Policy 2016-2021 aims to offer state and non-state actors the opportunity to engage with communities in a more coordinated way to meet local needs, address intractable problems, build capacity and support local development efforts. In addition, the policy provides the basis for a shared cross sector strategy and tools for coordinating government’s investment in building sustainable communities. In addition the policy aims at promoting community self-reliance through capacity building and active participation of community members in various development programmes and projects such as Community Mobilisation and Governance; Community Construction Projects; Community Resilience, Nutrition and Livelihoods and Adult Literacy services and sustaining them socially and economically. The key objectives of the policy are: To clearly define and popularise community development programmes being implemented in the country; To promote stakeholder compliance to effective community development approaches; To enhance the capacity of community leaders, committees within communities and the Ministry responsible for Community Development and other key stakeholders to effectively implement and manage community development programs; To create an environment that will promote and encourage research, development and use of appropriate technology to boost community development; To strengthen cooperation, coordination, collaboration and accountability among stakeholders in community development; To promote equal opportunities, accessibility and participation in social, political and economic spheres among all gender groups in community development activities; To promote strong personal decision making and improved interpersonal communication between couples and within families about population education and reproductive health issues including family planning and safe motherhood; To mobilize and utilise resources for community development; To promote ownership and sustainability of projects and programmes by community members.
Malawi · 2016-03-01