[{"bbox": [157, 150, 1073, 206], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## Identification of main stakeholders and corresponding institutional and/or organisational issues (mandates, potential roles, and capacities) to be covered by the Action -"}, {"bbox": [157, 215, 1073, 324], "category": "Text", "text": "This Action aims to address these problems from both a demand and supply side through strategic interventions of beneficiary institutions including the National Registration Bureau (NRB), the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), the Ministry of National Unity and the National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE), as well as civil society organisations."}, {"bbox": [195, 335, 344, 361], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### (a) NRB/NRIS"}, {"bbox": [157, 373, 1073, 693], "category": "Text", "text": "The National Registration Bureau (NRB) is a department under the Ministry of Homeland Security, mandated to undertake legal registration and identification of all citizens. Prior to 2016, Malawi lacked a functional national registry and identification system, undermining citizens' ability to claim their rights and access services. In addition, the ensuing absence of population data affected Government's capacity for efficient service delivery, evidence-based policy development and decision-making. Through a joint effort of several development partners, including the EU, the National Registration and Identification Support (NRIS) programme has registered all of the 10 million adults and provided them with an ID. The NRIS is also developing a number of public service linkages for efficient, effective and transparent service delivery. As such, the National ID has been used as a basis for voter identification in 2019 and 2020. Apart from the cost savings, it has been key in establishing a credible and transparent voter roll. Presently NRB is lacking technical capacity to take over the entire management and maintenance of the system."}, {"bbox": [195, 705, 288, 731], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### (b) MEC"}, {"bbox": [157, 743, 1073, 1169], "category": "Text", "text": "The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is a constitutional body mandated to periodically deliver credible elections that are free, fair, transparent, inclusive, efficient and cost-effective to entrench democratic values. Over the past decade, the EU through a UNDP managed basket fund, has delivered technical and material support to MEC to enable it to deliver on its mandate. The basket fund has proved vital in providing coordinated and systematic support to Government and in strengthening the role of MEC to better manage the electoral process over the past few years. This support has paid due dividend, with the 2019 EU EOM Report concluding that, \"having monitored three prior elections before 2019, it was clear that a significant number of positive changes were instituted by MEC allowing for fundamental rights and freedoms necessary for the conduct of democratic elections to prevail.\" Though this election was later overturned on account of irregularities, MEC was able to deliver a free, fair and credible election within a court mandated limited time period of 150 days. The fresh election was conducted with limited external support, demonstrating the growth of MEC from the years of support. Building onto this, the Action aims to provide technical support to MEC to ensure it stays on this path and has capacity to deliver credible, transparent and well-managed electoral process in preparation to the national election scheduled in 2025 via the basket fund arrangement."}, {"bbox": [195, 1181, 291, 1207], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### (c) NICE"}, {"bbox": [157, 1219, 1073, 1539], "category": "Text", "text": "NICE, was established to specifically focus on democracy and voter education. The institution has become a Public Trust in 2012. NICE falls under the relatively new Ministry of Civic Education and National Unity and operates through a network of over 9,000 grassroots volunteers to deliver civic education on behalf of Government agencies. The growth of NICE within the public sector has diluted the focus on mobilisation and engagement on democracy and governance related topics. While the awareness on these topics has improved over the years, the current governance challenges demonstrate the need for continued targeted engagement. To complement Government's plans, this Action may be focused exclusively on interventions in the NICE strategic plan that address democratic governance related topics. This concerns two of the four strategic pillars of the NICE 2021 – 2026 Strategic Plan: (1) creation of citizen demand for governance and contribution to the national building process through areas of electoral engagement and (2) peaceful existence and active participation in decision-making."}, {"bbox": [195, 1551, 493, 1577], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### (d) Ministry of National Unity"}, {"bbox": [976, 1680, 1082, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 7 of 26"}]