Tracking resource and policy impact in Malawi

This report is prepared jointly by National Statistical Office in Malawi and Statistics Norway. The objective has been to establish a system for statistical information to follow the potential effects of resources related to poverty and/or allocated to social sectors and through all steps from available public service towards the final outcome and end goals. This has included overall national policies affecting resource allocation for social sectors; allocation and distribution of resources between and within sectors; access to and use of social service; outcome and achievements; poverty reduction and other end goals; and feed back to economic, human and social development. The information presented aims at allowing the reader to follow resource allocation from policy decisions towards human welfare and quality of life, and the feed back towards economic and social development. Data presented are selected to provide information for indicators of the Malawi Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and the Millennium Development Goal indicators and resources which potentially might affect these indicators.

The data presented shows that resources allocated for the health sector resulted in increased output and outcome. The Southern Region got a larger allocation from the central government per capita, while the Northern Region lost out in the health budget allocation process. Villages in the southern region produced more outputs i.e. better immunisation coverage but surprisingly, villages in the northern region still managed to ensure equal outcomes. The ambitious policy change in the education sector by the new government in 1994 is well reflected in the statistics. There was an increase in budget allocation allowing for abolished government fees and hence opening up for education even for the poor. A dramatic increase in net enrolment followed. Despite the decrease in the percentage of certified teachers there was an increase in outcomes. Recurrent expenditures for primary schools show a huge variation and double 7-fold from Chikwawa and Mangochi to Rumphi and Chitipa. The larger budget allocation to districts in the Northern Region, is followed by a larger share passing the JCE in this region. Resources for the water sector come from a variety of sources and only a fraction is picked up in the statistics presented here. However serious attention should be given to the increase in the incidence of diarrhoea in the country. Comparison of selected figures for Malawi and Sub Sahara Africa showed that though Malawi's input was consistently below that of SSA and output (immunisation rate) is higher than the average for SSA, mortality rates are still higher for Malawi, but with the currents trends it will fall below in few years. In the education sector, Malawi invested more and got more output and outcome compared to the rest of the continent. Malawi also had better access to improved sanitation facilities compared to Sub Sahara, but access to improved water is better in average Sub Sahara Africa.

Acknowledgement : This project and report has been financed by NORAD.