Nice initiatives in Dowa excite EU
The European Union (EU) has expressed satisfaction with the level of community participation in the democratic governance programme they are funding in Dowa District.
EU democratic governance and human rights programme manager Grace Mganga said she was pleased with the communities’ level of articulation on governance issues to demand their rights.
She said in an interview on Monday at Chimkoka in Traditional Authority Chakhaza during an EU Delegation tour to Dowa to appreciate a three-year democratic governance project the National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust is implementing in the district.
Said Mganga: “I am impressed by how communities identify challenges and also how they identify the role duty-bearers should play in addressing them.
“It is more impressive that citizens are able to realise what they need and demand the same from government.”
She also said it was important for communities to demand accountability and transparency in public projects, saying it was only when people know their rights that they can help to transform their communities.
Nice Trust national civic education programmes officer Derex Souza said they will intensify efforts in creating awareness on the need for communities to know democratic governance issues.
“Communities should participate in development and duty-bearers should be responsive enough to explain how things are done that way,” he said.
Souza said they want more youths and women to participate in governance issues by demanding accountability and transparency.
