Dowa Council Expresses Concern Over Partners’ Absence from DEC Meetings

The Acting Chief Planning Officer for Dowa District Council, Yusuf Laki, has expressed concern over the continued absence of some development partners from District Executive Committee (DEC) meetings, describing the tendency as unwelcome and detrimental to effective collaboration.

Laki noted with disappointment that some partners attend DEC meetings only to present and seek approval for their projects, but fail to maintain their participation afterward. He emphasized that such behavior shows a lack of commitment and urged partners to change their approach.

“I find it unfortunate that some partners disappear after getting their projects approved. It gives the impression that their only interest is project approval, not collaboration,” said Laki.

He appealed to both long-standing and newly-engaged partners to take DEC meetings seriously by ensuring that their offices are represented by competent personnel who can actively participate and report back to their respective organizations.

Speaking during a recent DEC meeting held at the Boma, Laki encouraged all partners implementing interventions in the district to work closely with government officers to ensure project sustainability.

He stressed the importance of collaboration, urging partners to work together as one family to ensure their initiatives serve the true interests of the people. He added that the council expects all partners to submit regular project reports to promote knowledge sharing and learning from each other’s experiences.

“Partners are required to submit quarterly reports to the council’s Monitoring and Evaluation Office so we can track what is happening across the district. This enhances cooperation, transparency, and accountability,” Laki said.

He further highlighted the need for visibility and sustainability, noting that when a project ends, communities often follow up with the council for continuity.

Laki thanked partners such as World Vision, the Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC), and others for their commendable work in the district, describing them as community favorites whose efforts have greatly eased the council’s work in delivering essential services.