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Call for Applications: The Public Sector Innovation Challenge in Malawi

Deadline: 31-May-23

The Malawi Government with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is calling for submission of proposals for the Innovation Challenge, in line with ongoing efforts to support government institutions to adopt innovative reforms for improving public service delivery and the achievement of both the Malawi 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The second round of this Challenge seeks to complement government’s efforts for enhancing the role of key Ministries in boosting Productivitiy in the wider economy and generation of revenue as highlighted in the State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the opening session of Parliament and 2023/2024 Budget meeting.

Focuses

The Malawi Implementation Plan (MIP) has identified innovation as a focus area across three pillars:

  • Pillar I: Agricultural Productivity and Commercialization
  • Pillar II: Industrialization
  • Pillar III: Urbanization

The Challenge focuses on the promotion Enablers 2 and 3 respectively.

The Challenge focuses on the promotion of two interrelated Enablers of the MIP-1 Enablers 2 and 3 respectively.

  • Enabler 2: Effective Governance Systems and Institutions, whose objective is to have effective and efficient governance systems and institutions with strict adherence to the rule of law.
  • Enabler 3: Enhanced Public Sector Performance, whose objective is to have a world class high performing and professional public sector for the efficient delivery of public services and goods.

The Innovation challenge provides an opportunity for line ministries to identify challenges and opportunities for positioning themselves to be more productive intheir performance and enhance revenue generation, to deliver services more effectively and efficiently, using innovative approaches.

Categories for Submission

The total value of the Award is USD 120,000. Up to 40,000 USD each, will be awarded to three winning proposals.

  • Category 1: Revenue Generation
    • Applies to innovations that are:
      • Enhancing efficiency in revenue collection through improved administration (systems, processes etc.)
      • Increasing revenue by diversifying revenue sources (broadening revenue bases)
  • Category 2: Productivity
    • Applies to innovations that can demonstrate increased/improved level of service (output/outcome) with the least possible cost.
Eligibility Criteria
  • All Ministries are eligible to apply.
  • All submissions must be signed off by the Ministry’s Controlling Officer.
  • Submissions by individual departments are not accepted.
  • Awards will not be made to individuals but to the institutions.
  • Each Ministry can only submit one proposal per category.
Application Procedures and Guidelines
  • Ministries are not restricted to apply to one category but are only allowed to send one submission per category.
  • The submission should demonstrate how the innovation will improve revenue generation and or overall productivity of the Ministry.
  • The innovation should be clearly aligned to at least one focus area of either one of the pillars of Malawi 2063.
  • The submission should clearly demonstrate that the proposed innovation can work.
  • The submission should clearly demonstrate partnership building.
  • The submission should provide a clear description of the implementation plan of activities and timelines.
  • The submission must include a letter of endorsement from the Ministry’s Controlling Officer of the submitting Ministry.
  • Submissions shall be made on a prescribed online entry form and shall not exceed a total number of prescribed words
  • The selection of winning submissions will be done by an independent panel, duly constituted with knowledge in public sector management and innovation.
  • The submission must include a completed application form that includes the following designated roles of the institution’s innovation team:
    • Team Lead
      • A designated officer in the institution who will coordinate the innovation team on innovation validation, testing, refining and scaling.
      • The team lead will be the change agent of the institution and will work closely with the Public Sector Innovation Technical Committee.
    • Innovation design and testing officer/Innovator
      • A designated officer who will be responsible to design new innovations for identified challenges or adapt existing innovations to suit identified challenges in the institutions. He/she will also be responsible in coordinating small scale testing & piloting of the innovations.
    • Planning and strategic partnerships officer
      • A designated officer who will be responsible to explore possible partnerships (i.e with other MDAs, private sector or citizens) that could support design, testing, growing/institutionalizing the innovation.
    • Young Professional/Intern (Not more than 35 years of age)
      • A young officer/intern who will work closely with the team to support administrative tasks for the team, reinforce solution validation, testing and implementation, document and share lessons with other MDAs for replication of the innovation.
  • Note: Councils are particularly encouraged to include females in the team.

For more information, visit Malawi Government.