Priority areas

The following are the broad reform areas that form the basis of reforms in public institutions:

Character of Reforms

The Public Sector Reforms agenda is being undertaken in all three branches of government aimed at modernising the country and moving Malawi to a middle income country. The Public Sector Reform agenda will be deepened and enforced so that reforms anchor thekey pillars and enablers in the MW2063 development agenda and implementation framework of the MW2063 First 10-year Implementation Plan (MIP-1).

The criteria of determining Public Sector Reforms 

  • Efficiency: Ability to deliver more output (service or products) with the least cost.
  • Effectiveness: The extent to which it will bring about the targeted or desired level of output (service or product)
  • Innovativeness: Originality by virtue of bringing new and effective ways of doing things.
  • Creativity: Use of the original ideas to deliver new and effective way of service delivery.
  • Sustainability: sustain itself over time in terms of its existence and its impact.

Broad Reform Areas
Government shall continue to undertake reforms in the following areas:

  1. Legislative and Policy Reforms
  • Reviewing and amending outdated Acts/policies in order to create an enabling environment for effective operation of public sector institutions.
  1. Institutional Reforms
  • Conducting institutional restructuring to have a fit for purpose organizational structure. It will determine numbers, grades and designations of posts necessary for optimal performance of public sector institutions - Functional Reviews
  1. Operational/Functional Reforms
  • To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of services in order to raise the quality of the public services delivered to the public. This focuses on business process re-engineering of systems, processes and procedures. The reforms focus on enhancing core functions of ministries and departments.
  1. Financial Sustainability
  • These reforms are aimed making public sector institutions to achieve financial autonomy or independence by expanding revenue streams/base, strengthening revenue generation or Local Revenue Enhancement Plan (LREP).
  1.  Digitisation/Automation
  • These reforms are aimed at enhancing the use of modern technology to make services more accessible and to ease doing business - Robust Management Information System, Computerization of Registry
  1. Capacity Development and Leadership Building Reforms
  • These reforms are aimed at having competent and motivated staff by strengthening employeeSkills, Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviours, Values and Mindset Change
  1. Administrative Reforms
  • These reforms are aimed at improving employees’ performance and welfare: health insurance and pension schemes, service charters, right sizing aimed at improving the Public Sector Management & Administration.
  1.  Infrastructure Development and Management Reforms
  • These reforms are aimed at facilitating the development of a safe, affordable, reliable, equitable and sustainable infrastructure to improve/increase access to inclusive social and public service.
  1. Public Finance Reforms
  • These are aimed at strengthening fiscal discipline, ensuring debt sustainability; and attaining efficient, transparent and modern management of public finance.
  1. Economic Reforms
  • These include necessary structural adjustments to both external and internal economic activities to promote long-term economic growth. These may include structural reforms initiatives (e.g. industrial reforms, trade and capital flow reforms, infrastructural reforms, financial sector reforms, insurance sector reforms (for a well-functioning capital and money markets etc.)

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Categorisation of Reforms aligned to MW2063 Pillars/Enablers

In the new PSR period, 2023 going forward, the reforms in the categories highlighted for a particular MDA will be aligned to the thematic areas in line with the MW2063 development agenda.

A.  AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY AND COMMERCIALISATION

  • Focus Areas: Agricultural Diversification; Irrigation Development; Anchor Farms; Agricultural Inputs; Agricultural Mechanization; Structured Markets; Agriculture Research, Innovation and Dissemination

B.  INDUSTRIALIZATION

  • Focus Areas: Industrializing Mining; Diversification, Value Addition andCompetitiveness largely targeting Export Markets; Creation of SpecialEconomic Zones and Export Processing Zones; Research, Science, Technology and Innovation.

C. URBANIZATION

  • Focus Areas: Development of Secondary Cities; Infrastructure Development Planning and Investment in Cities and Towns that is regulated and controlled; Sustainable Municipal Self-financing Mechanisms; Tourism Development.

D. MINDSET CHANGE

  • Focus Areas: Visionary and Transformative Leadership; Patriotism; Religious Values; Integrity; Hardwork and Self-reliance; Building Positivity

E. EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE SYSTEMS AND INSTITUTIONS

  • Focus Areas: Financing/Financial Sustainability, Citizen Engagement, Participation and Fair Conduct of Elections; Openness and Transparency; Rule of Law; Sustainable and Long-term Development Orientation; Sound Financial and Economic Management; Human Rights and Cultural Diversity-Social Cohesion; Sustainable Peace and Security.

F.   ENHANCED PUBLIC SECTOR PERFORMANCE

  • Focus Areas: Public Sector Reforms; Public Service Delivery; Ethical Conduct

G. PRIVATE SECTOR DYNAMISM

  • Focus Areas: Creating an Enabling Business Environment; Digital Economy     Promotion; Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development; Anchor Firms  Development

H. ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE

  • Focus Areas: Energy Generation and Supply; Transport Development; ICT Development, Digitalisation/Automation

 I. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

  • Focus Areas: Ecosystem Conservation and Environmental Management; Waste   Management and Green Economy; Climate Change Management; Environment and  Climate Change Financing; Natural Disaster and Climate Adversities Preparedness