EU resumes direct budget support to Malawi after 10 years

The European Union, (EU) has signed a direct budget support programme with Malawi government worthy €55 million euros to enhance efficiency and effectiveness and quality in the delivery of secondary education services.

Speaking at the signing of the agreement, EU ambassador to Malawi Rune Sinnebach says the resumption of this budget support after a long decade comes with clear expectations and a mutual understanding of accountability and transparency.

“This is a renewed collaboration and committiment to our shared goals of stability, progress and accountability. Progress will be monitored, ensuring that resources are utilised effectively and transparently and that it delivers tangible results for the people of Malawi,” he said

Skinnebach also said the program aligns with the government of Malawi’s priorities under Malawi 2063 as well as the European Union’s Global Gateway investment strategy.

In his remarks, Minister of Finance Simplex Chithyola Banda said this signifies confidence that donors have to the current administration and assured development partners on government committiment to ensure accountability and transparency.

“Today is a great day as Malawi we have signed two big grants in a day, these are not loans but grants, it has taken us more than 13 years since donors stopped giving us direct support what it means is that our budget was run with a huge deficit because we could not be able to get enough resources to implement a number of projects, the coming in of these huge amounts it’s an indication of confidence in our reforms as a country,” Chithyola Banda said.

Minister of Education, Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima expressed sincere gratitude as the support will ensure proper coordination of of secondary education and improving quality secondary education in providing bursaries to students.