Government, along with officials from the National Planning Commission (NPC) and civil society organisations (CSOs), underwent a study tour of Zambia to learn from the country’s strides in economic development.

NPC Director General, Thomas Munthali, said the visit let them look at broader themes instead of looking at each sector. “It shows that there is a lot of evidence-based planning. In that think-tank thinking, civil society is actively engaged such that you wouldn’t that these are public sector institutions of research because civil society has a lot of confidence in them,” Munthali said.

During the visit, Zambia’s Department of Development Planning Director, Mulele Maketo Mulele, outlined that coming up with clear priorities and crafting an effective monitoring and evaluation tools are key in the national development planning process. Council for Nongovernmental Organisations in Malawi Chairperson, Steve Duwa, said the visit would help them to have a clear understanding of the role of civil society in the national development planning process.