The Lilongwe Diocese of CCJP Distributes Bicycles and Scooters

The CCJP Diocese of Lilongwe last year distributed 100 mountain bicycles and three scooters to 90 Community Based Educators (CBEs) and three supervisors which will go a long way in reducing transportation problems in the implementation of the Parliamentary Liaison Project (PLP) which is being supported by the Dan Church Aid (DCA).

The donation, which came as a gift from the Danish people through DCA, follows recommendations from the Mid-term Evaluation Review of the PLP pilot phase which ran from 2005-2007. The review identified a number of challenges besetting the implementation of PLP which, among other things, included transportation constraints.

It also observed that there was insufficient distribution of CBEs as well as inadequate number of CBEs per constituency. As a result, it was difficult for the CBEs to carry out their activities effectively in their respective constituencies.

The bikes and scooters, therefore, will help ease communication between the CBEs and their beneficiaries and result in the attainment of the project goals, as the project, now in its second phase (2007-2010), continues to benefit the communities in Kasungu, Lilongwe and Ntchisi. The project is currently being implemented in 16 constituencies as follows: 4 constituencies in Kasungu; 11 constituencies in Lilongwe; and 2 constituencies in Ntchisi.

The PLP overall goal is to contribute towards the protection and empowerment of the marginalized poor, especially rural women, to exercise and uphold their right to participate for increased access and control of resources and services.

The expected long-term impact of the project is that women in the districts of Lilongwe, Kasungu, and Ntchisi are assertive citizens with increased control of their own development and access to the benefit that accrue from it.
Besides the main objective/goals as highlighted above, other immediate objectives of the project are as follows:

1. Strengthened participation of women in politics and decision making position at all levels so that they are empowered to take control of their resources, power and decision making.
2. Increased access to justice to women and other vulnerable groups including the elderly and orphans against discriminatory and negative harmful cultural; practices.
3. Improved monitoring of legislation and policies
4. Strengthened institutional capacity through gender mainstreaming, auditing and advocacy among staff in CCJP for effective implementation of the project
5. Strengthened coordination and collaboration among partners and stakeholders for effective advocacy

Application of Lessons Leant to Other Related Programmes

The organisation has also drawn lessons from the implementation of the PLP which will contribute towards effective implementation of other projects as well, particularly the Primary Justice project.

 As a result of the lessons learnt from the PLP, CCJP has also acquired 2240 bicycles for the implementation of the Primary Justice project. The bicycles are being distributed to all the 1980 CBEs across the country, plus chiefs and T/As, to enable them conduct awareness meetings in the communities, among other things. The acquisition also includes 26 scooters for supervisors.

The Primary Justice project, which is being implemented in all the 28 districts with funding from UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), is based on the way people resolve conflicts, address issues, and access justice, using their own resources.

It aims to build capacity for the informal justice service providers in order for them to provide adequate, quality and effective justice.