Six members of Malawi’s Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) have rejected a proposal to reopen the selection process for the Principal Recipient of the next Global Fund grants.
The members say there is no basis for seeking fresh votes or endorsements from CCM members who were absent when the decision was made.
The members argue that the August 18 meeting had already attained the required quorum, allowing those present to deliberate and vote on the agenda, including the Principal Recipient selection.
Treza Mphwatiwa, one of the six objectors, said the decision was treated differently from other resolutions adopted at the same meeting because the chair indicated that absent members would be asked for their input.
“But only on this one, on the PR selection, it was like left in suspense,” Mphwatiwa said.
The six members, Dunker Kamba, Bishop Moffat Litchapa, Mphwatiwa, Memory Kamwendo, Tionge Gondwe and Ishmael Phiri, say receiving meeting documents does not amount to participating in the meeting or its deliberations.
They argue that members who were absent could not hear the arguments, question presenters or respond to other members before the vote, making any subsequent participation fundamentally different from voting during the meeting.
“A member who was absent from the Meeting was not privy to the debate that preceded the vote on the PR selection,” they wrote in their formal objection.
The members have therefore asked the CCM leadership to halt any process seeking additional votes, comments or endorsements from absent members and disregard any such responses already received.
The dispute comes as Malawi prepares its next Global Fund application, with the Principal Recipient expected to implement programmes supported by the fund. The Global Fund says CCMs are responsible for nominating Principal Recipients, who are then assessed for their financial, managerial and programme capacity.
Mphwatiwa said the dispute could delay the identification of a Principal Recipient for the community component of Malawi’s application, warning that continued silence could have negative repercussions as the process moves towards its October 5 deadline.
“I am hoping that the information will be used for helping the agenda that we have, that the selection of the PR should be transparent and also should reflect the voice of the communities,” she said.
The six members have reserved the right to escalate the matter to the Global Fund Secretariat or other relevant oversight bodies if their concerns are not addressed, while saying they remain committed to the CCM and good governance.
The members say there is no basis for seeking fresh votes or endorsements from CCM members who were absent when the decision was made.
The members argue that the August 18 meeting had already attained the required quorum, allowing those present to deliberate and vote on the agenda, including the Principal Recipient selection.
Treza Mphwatiwa, one of the six objectors, said the decision was treated differently from other resolutions adopted at the same meeting because the chair indicated that absent members would be asked for their input.
“But only on this one, on the PR selection, it was like left in suspense,” Mphwatiwa said.
The six members, Dunker Kamba, Bishop Moffat Litchapa, Mphwatiwa, Memory Kamwendo, Tionge Gondwe and Ishmael Phiri, say receiving meeting documents does not amount to participating in the meeting or its deliberations.
They argue that members who were absent could not hear the arguments, question presenters or respond to other members before the vote, making any subsequent participation fundamentally different from voting during the meeting.
“A member who was absent from the Meeting was not privy to the debate that preceded the vote on the PR selection,” they wrote in their formal objection.
The members have therefore asked the CCM leadership to halt any process seeking additional votes, comments or endorsements from absent members and disregard any such responses already received.
The dispute comes as Malawi prepares its next Global Fund application, with the Principal Recipient expected to implement programmes supported by the fund. The Global Fund says CCMs are responsible for nominating Principal Recipients, who are then assessed for their financial, managerial and programme capacity.
Mphwatiwa said the dispute could delay the identification of a Principal Recipient for the community component of Malawi’s application, warning that continued silence could have negative repercussions as the process moves towards its October 5 deadline.
“I am hoping that the information will be used for helping the agenda that we have, that the selection of the PR should be transparent and also should reflect the voice of the communities,” she said.
The six members have reserved the right to escalate the matter to the Global Fund Secretariat or other relevant oversight bodies if their concerns are not addressed, while saying they remain committed to the CCM and good governance.
