Follow Up - Progress to date: Malawi

In late 2001 the Government of Malawi and the Integrated Framework Working Group (IFWG) agreed that Malawi would participate in the next round of the IF work program.

In November 2001, a preliminary mission of IFWG representatives was fielded to Malawi to: establish working arrangements with the government; establish processes for recruiting local IF team members; and establish the scope of the Terms of Reference.

In February 2002, the resultant Terms of Reference (pdf - 298k) were reviewed by the IF National Steering Committee that consists of government officials, private sector representatives, development partners, and non-governmental organizations. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry serves as the focal point for the IF National Steering Committee.

In April 2002, the National Steering Committee met once again to approve the Terms of Reference. This also coincided with the commencement of the main field mission to Malawi, which carried out its work between April 29 and May 10, 2002. The team prepared a draft, which was circulated to the authorities and reviewed by the members of the IFWG.

The national workshop took place on September 4, 2003. The draft DTIS to be discussed at this workshop include the following issues:

• Economic setting

• Trade regime and Performance

• Trade-Related Institutions

• Trade facilitation

• Selected Sectoral Issues (Agriculture/agro-industry, tobacco, tea, sugar, cotton, groundnuts, paprika, textiles and clothing, tourism and other diversification opportunities)

• Action Matrix

Earlier in 2003, a Growth Strategy for Malawi was adopted which was developed by the Department of Economic Planning and the National Action Group, a high level forum of leading businesses, economic ministers and donors. This strategy has incorporated many of the DTIS findings.

At the workshop, discussion during the break-out session focused on the transport sector, trade facilitation, trade policy formulation and coordination, and enhancing the capacity and trade support institutions. A summary (pdf - 74k) of the proceedings of the workshop is included in an aide-memoire.

The Malawi PRSP was completed in 2002 and did not extensively address trade issues. It is expected that the PRSP progress report will include these issues more comprehensively.

Norway is the IF facilitator in Malawi.

Page Last Updated On July 12, 2005