The National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Public Trust has hailed the handover of the Maso Athu Election Situation Room (ESR) platform from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a milestone in promoting peace, transparency, and accountability in governance.
The digital platform, which was instrumental during the September 16 General Elections, has been officially transferred to NICE and the Malawi Peace and Unity Commission (MPUC) for continued use in peacebuilding and
governance monitoring.
NICE Executive Director Gray Kalindekafe Speaking on Tuesday at UNDP offices in Lilongwe after receiving the handover, said the initiative marks a new era in Malawi’s approach to early warning systems and civic oversight.
“We are transforming Maso Athu into a Governance Situation Room that will monitor issues such as conflicts, corruption and public expenditure and it will ensure that no whisper of unrest becomes a scream and that no citizen’s voice goes unheard,” said Kalindekafe.
He said NICE will work closely with institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Bureau(ACB) and the Ministry of Local Government to strengthen transparency and accountability in public service delivery.
Kalindekafe added that NICE will leverage its 30 district offices and over 10,000 volunteers across the country to collect real-time data and enhance civic participation in governance.
On his part, MPUC Commissioner Professor Francis Mkandawire commended UNDP for the support, saying the system will improve coordination and response to potential conflicts.
“This platform enables us to monitor incidents as they unfold and respond quickly and through our partnership with NICE, we can use this system to maintain peace and unity right from the community level,” he said.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Dr. Chika Charles Aniekwe said the handover signifies a shared commitment to sustaining peace, stability and good governance in Malawi.
He said the Maso Athu system, developed under the Malawi Electoral Support Project, will continue to serve as a digital tool for conflict prevention, peace promotion and timely response.
The platform was funded by development partners including the European Union, Ireland, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“This platform enables us to monitor incidents as they unfold and respond quickly.”
Professor Francis Mkandawire
MPUC Commissioner
