A consortium of ECAMA, Oxfam in Malawi and LUANAR is organizing University Students’ Debates, targeting both public and private universities in Malawi.

The debates are being organized under the “Enhanced evidence-based research to inform policy decision making in PFM” project that is being implemented by the consortium. The project falls under the “Chuma Cha Dziko Programme” and is co-funded by the Delegation of European Union to Malawi and Oxfam. Against the background of well documented evidence of gaps and weaknesses in the PFM systems in Malawi, the project seeks to contribute to the improved use and management of public resources through a PFM system that promotes transparency, accountability, fiscal discipline, efficiency and effectiveness.

This year’s theme for the debates is “Youth engagement in Public Finance Management: A catalyst for a transparent, accountable, efficient and effective PFM system”. The debates will cover various topics including efficacy of the current PFM system, citizen participation in the budget process, decentralization, taxation, resources mobilization, and reforms in the PFM system, amongst others.

The 2021 University Students’ Debates will run for three months; from August 2021 through October 2021, and the participating colleges and universities are:

1. Blantyre International University (BIU)

2. Catholic University of Malawi (CUNIMA)

3. Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)

4. Malawi Assemblies of God University (MAGU)

5. Malawi Institute of Management (MIM)

6. Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS)

7. Mzuzu University (MZUNI)

8. Pentecostal Life University (PLU)

9. University of Livingstonia (UNILIA)

10. University of Malawi (UNIMA)

The participating colleges will compete at regional level during the knockout stages and four with the highest points out of the five successful ones, will proceed to the semi-finals at national level. Winners of the finals will be crowned champions of the 2021 University Students Debates and will be given a cash prize of MK500,000 while the runner up will be given MK250,000.

The 2021 University Students’ Debate Competition will be inaugurated on 20th August, 2021 between the University of Malawi (UNIMA) and the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS).

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