A Study on the Functionality of Village Development Committees: A Case of Matupi Village Development Committee in Rumphi District in Northern Malawi

Author(s): Aaron Andrew Luhanga and Dr. T Velmurugan

Abstract:

The Malawi Government recognises the importance of involvement and participation of local people in Community Development (CD) processes. As such, VDCs were created to offer opportunity to local people to participate in bottom – up planning and development processes at local level. VDCs as a representative body from a village or group of villages are responsible for facilitating planning and development at local level. They offer opportunity for local communities to contribute effectively to developing their area. The studies show there is value in the involvement and participation of local people in Community Development (CD). In Malawi, VDCs are focal point for planning and development because the planning cycle starts from and ends with the VDC. Therefore, this shows VDCs are at the centre of community development because they play an important role. Among key aspects, Village Development Committees (VDCs) create an enabling environment for local people to participate in the needs assessment of their community and come up with village action plans (VAPs) which contain their needs and aspirations and their actual participation in community development. VAP is a community situational analysis and action plan for the development of their area. This report is based on the study which was conducted to interrogate critical factors affecting the functionality of Village Development Committees including their role in ensuring effective and efficient coordination of development agenda. It is further aimed at identifying capacity gaps that prohibits them from functioning. In this write-up, Matupi VDC in Rumphi District in Northern Malawi has been used as a case in point. In particular, focus was to assess if the VDC functions in line with guidelines in the Malawi Development Planning Handbook for District Councils; to identify factors contributing to effectiveness of VDCs in Rumphi District; and to assess the capacity gaps of the Matupi VDC in relation to discharging its development agenda in Jumbi area.

keywords:

Pages: 09-17     |    2 View     |    0 Download