NICE Projects
National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) is a project drawn from the Financing Agreement between the Malawi Government and the European Commission under the programme called “The Promotion of the Rule of Law and Civic Education in Malawi”. The overall goal of this Programme is to contribute to the democratic process and good governance for accelerated economic growth and poverty reduction. Within this programme, the NICE component is designed to contribute to the attainment of Result 4: Greater public confidence and participation in democratic governance realized.
The overall objective of the NICE component is to contribute to the strengthening of the democratic process and the increase of good governance in Malawi. NICE is a continuation of two previously implemented project phases in the field of good governance aimed at encouraging Malawian citizenry to actively participate in public life through awareness initiatives and capacity building.
The NICE component is expected to achieve six main results as follows:Result 1: NICE is established as formalized Malawian national institution with a clear identity and visibility.
Result 2: NICE’s internal organization and capacity is enhanced, to allow for improved and sustained quality of implementation of NICE’s program.
Result 3: Networking and cooperation with other role-players and stakeholders in the area of civic and voters education at national and district level is increased.
Result 4: A broad base of Malawian civil society organizations is capable of engaging themselves in activities that ensure citizens participation in decisions affecting them and their development, and to raise and manage funds to do so.
Result 5: Duty bearers2 and Malawian citizens have increased awareness and understanding of principles and values of democratic society. Duty bearers have become more accountable towards the public, and citizens are better able to hold duty bearers to account for their performance
Result 6: NICE’s regional (African) recognition is increased through enhanced regional networking.
THE CONTEXT OF NICE WORK
Integration with Government Policy
The project puts special emphasis on strengthening the role of civil society in ensuring good governance, the protection of human rights, equal access to justice, improved legislative framework and service delivery to promote investment and local industries, corporate governance and an accountable and transparent public sector management.
NICE is therefore complementing Government’s efforts in increasing awareness on democracy and encouraging Malawians to take part in the promotion of good governance.
Integration with EU Framework for Cooperation
Activities in this phase are generally designed to respond to recommendations from previous reviews, monitoring and evaluation reports which emphasized on the relevance of the NICE project to Malawi’s democracy and development.
Complementing other programmes by the EU and other donor partners
The promotion of the Rule of Law component:
This component of the project is strengthening the formal legal sector and in general institutions that guarantee the rule of law. NICE collaborates with its sister component especially to complement its programs aimed at enhancing the rule of law. Recently NICE has collaborated with the Malawi Electoral Commission in its voter education programs and also the ACB in its awareness programs and complaint handling. The project also collaborates with the Body of Case Handling Institutions most of whose members are beneficiaries of the Rule of Law Program.
Support to Non-State Actors (NSAs) Project aims at capacity building support to NGOs, CBOs and civil society organizations for them to effectively fulfill their duties and mandates especially those operating to promote governance and other related development programs. NICE provides its outreach structure as a platform for dissemination of information. NICE also links the project to the district Civil Society Networks most of which have been established through the facilitation of respective NICE district officers.
The Income Generating Public Works Program (IGPWP) which has cross-cutting themes of gender, human rights awareness and HIV and AIDS in all its components (infrastructure development, forestry, irrigation etc.). NICE has partnered with IGPWP to mobilise communities for participation in activities of common good orientation and has provided awareness on the cross cutting issues.
Safety Security and Access to Justice – SSAJ
This is a new project that follows MASSAJ and is supported by the Department for International Development. The project’s objective is to contribute to good governance and the resultant reduction of poverty through improved access to justice for the poor at community level. In selected districts, NICE offices are supporting both administrative and programme implementation, whiles in others, NICE helps to facilitate activities aimed at promoting administration of Primary Justice.
MAJOR FOCAL AREAS FOR NICE IN THE CURRENT PROGRAMME ESTIMATE
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Finalize Institutionalization Process for NICE
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Maintain and Increase awareness and Understanding of NICE
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Preserve the History of NICE
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Establish a consultative forum on Civic Education
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Implement programs to ensure citizen participation through capacity building for
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Traditional, Political and religious leaders and other key role players at district level
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Implement Civic and Voter Education programs to promote accountability and transparency
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Conduct Civic and Voter Education programs to promote participation in
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Local Government Elections (LGE) in 2010
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Monitor Voter Registration and Elections voting process (LGE 2010)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Support Adult Literacy initiatives to improve access to information
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Promotion of Intercultural and Political dialogue, tolerance and peaceful coexistence
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Support the presence of NICE in regional and international forums on governance, civic and voter education