Deadline: 25-Aug-2025
The U.S. Embassy Lilongwe has announced this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a Fiscal Transparency Innovation Fund to promote transparency in Malawi’s extractive sector and the impact of mining revenues on government borrowing.
The U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe is inviting applications for the Fiscal Transparency Innovation Fund (FTIF) grant, with up to $781,854 in funding available for Fiscal Year 2024 Economic Support Funds. This initiative seeks to enhance transparency in Malawi’s extractive industries and clarify how mining revenues impact government borrowing.
The program is designed to broaden public access to essential information such as mining licensing, contract approval processes, ownership disclosures, revenue collection, and the public debt portfolio. By strengthening such transparency, the fund aims to reduce corruption, promote fair taxation, improve mining revenue utilization, and increase the benefits received by communities.
A core goal of the program is to help Malawi meet International standards set by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). By improving data visibility and fostering dependable fiscal reporting, the initiative hopes to boost investor confidence, stabilize the business environment, and encourage ethical competition in the mining sector.
On the debt front, the program encourages the development of a publicly accessible standard for national debt data, including liabilities of state-owned enterprises. Making this information available to Parliament and citizens alike is expected to improve oversight over government borrowing, a crucial step in addressing Malawi’s fiscal instability.
Implementation of the project will span up to 24 months, with activities potentially including system enhancements, data mapping, legal framework reviews, training for civil society and media, and publication of community-focused mining reports. Prospective partners include governmental agencies, the Malawi EITI, civil society organizations, extractive firms, and media professionals.
Eligible applicants encompass non-profit and civil society organizations, think tanks, educational institutions, public international organizations, and governmental bodies equipped to manage such grants.
This opportunity offers a significant path to fostering stronger governance, accountability, and sustainable development in Malawi’s extractive and fiscal sectors.
For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in Malawi.
