LocationsStrengthening Accountability Committees to Safeguard Public Resources
February 12, 2026
Rt. Hon. Sameer Gaffar Suleman, Speaker of the Parliament of Malawi (seated, front row, centre), and Ms. Nanise Saune-Qaloewai, UNDP Governance Portfolio Manager (seated, sixth from left), pose for a group photo with members of Parliamentary Oversight Committees following the opening of an induction meeting aimed at strengthening accountability across the full budget cycle.
The Parliament of Malawi, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), convened a two-day Induction Workshop for Parliamentary Oversight Committees aimed at reinforcing accountability across the full budget cycle. The workshop was held from 9 to 10 February 2026 at the Parliament Building in Lilongwe.
The workshop brought together Members of the Budget and Finance Committee, the Public Accounts Committee, and the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Corporations, and State Enterprises. Discussions focused on strengthening Parliament’s oversight role in scrutinizing budgets, public debt, fiscal risks, domestic resource mobilization, and the performance of state-owned enterprises.
Rt. Hon. Sameer Gaffar Suleman, Speaker of the Parliament of Malawi, delivers his remarks at the opening of the induction session for the Parliamentary Oversight Committees.
Opening the workshop, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Rt Hon. Sameer Gaffar Suleman, emphasized that public office is a public trust. He reminded Members that the effectiveness of accountability committees is measured not by the number of reports produced, but by the impact of their recommendations — including the recovery of public funds, improvements in financial management systems, and institutions compelled to act responsibly.
He further stressed that effective oversight does not happen by default. It requires a clear mandate, technical understanding, independent thinking, and coordination among committees. He encouraged Members to approach their responsibilities with diligence, professionalism, and commitment to the national interest.
Ms. Nanise Saune-Qaloewai, UNDP Governance Portfolio Manager, delivers remarks on behalf of the Resident Representative at the opening of the induction session.
Speaking on behalf of the UNDP Resident Representative, Nanise Saune, Governance Portfolio Manager, highlighted that in the current fiscal environment — marked by rising public debt and constrained fiscal space — strong and coordinated parliamentary oversight is essential. She noted that effective scrutiny is not only a constitutional obligation, but a development imperative.
She emphasized the importance of early engagement in budget formulation, vigilant oversight of borrowing and guarantees, and careful examination of fiscal risks, including those arising from state-owned enterprises. Strengthening oversight at each stage of the budget cycle, she noted, helps prevent risks rather than merely reacting to them.
The workshop was designed to deepen Members’ understanding of international and regional best practices in parliamentary oversight and to strengthen practical tools for effective scrutiny across the public financial management cycle. Its objectives included enhancing coordination among committees, strengthening effective questioning techniques, improving review of fiscal risk reports, and reinforcing oversight of public debt, domestic resource mobilization, and state-owned enterprises.
Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening oversight across the entire budget cycle — from formulation and approval to execution and post-expenditure review — ensuring that accountability mechanisms are proactive rather than reactive.
This workshop forms part of UNDP’s broader induction series for the Parliament of Malawi, launched in October 2025 to strengthen oversight, leadership, and institutional effectiveness across parliamentary structures.
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