In a new council, a challenge rose where the councilors lacked capacity on proper utilization of the resources, budget and management of development projects, resulting in poor service delivery. Policy Forum partnered with the Mafinga Town Council, Member of Parliament to provide Social Accountability Monitoring (SAM) training for effective service delivery.
Among all 13 councilors it is only 3 experienced councilors from Mufindi council, as a result of many challenges regardless the guidelines available. The councilors do not have the capacity on how to conduct meetings was among the challenges, poor understanding on budget planning , also the councilors where unable to question on the use of the money during the meetings.
In order to harmonize and build the council’s ability to effectively deliver services to the citizens, The Member of Parliament of Mafinga Town Council, Kosato Chumi, reached out to Policy Forum who conducted Social Accountability Monitoring training to equip to effective monitoring of development projects and activities. The impact is immeasurable.
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Long Term Benefits
The long term benefit from the intervention include capacity building to the councilors, promote good service delivery, proper budget planning which results to effective utilization of the resources, execution and proper use of the local government laws which acts as guidance to the councilors and minimize gaps for corruption and misuse public funds.
Lessons Learnt
- Regardless of the budget limitation, the government needs to allocate a budget for training of the councilors, so as to improve service delivery at the local level.
- Partnership for development, CSOs should partner with government authorities by supporting their efforts to bring about development. Just like how Policy Forum did to the new Mafinga Council by providing SAM training which equipped the councilors and promote effective service delivery to their localities.
- It is necessary for the councilors to understand well the principle, rules and regulations of the local government it will guide them when excuting the development plans and projects, also budge management and allocation helps in proper utilization of the public funds and ensure public money accountability.