1. The Status of Open Contracting in the Construction Sector in Malawi Presented by Joe Ching’ani-MSG Chairperson, CoST Malawi
Construction Sector Transparency Initiative, abbreviated CoST is an Open Contracting Program
Global Governance
Country specific
Aimed at promoting & increasing Transparency and Accountability in publicly financed infrastructure projects
Ultimate goal is to ensure value for money.
Program was first Piloted in 2008 in 9 Countries before later being launched as a fully fledged global program in 2012.

2. CoST Countries Guatemala Honduras CoSta rica The Philippines
Afghanistan
Elsavador
Panama
Thailand
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Ethiopia
Tanzania
Malawi
Uganda
Botswana

3. Key Features of CoST
Assurance
Disclosure
Multi Stakeholder Group

4. Assurance
Assurance is a process of subjecting contracts to a technical scrutiny by a well qualified and experienced expert , gathering, analyzing and verifying or validating all relevant Infrastructure data standards.
Stakeholders need to be able to understand the disclosed information and to identify issues of interest or potential concern. CoST assurance Process helps to achieve this by interpreting the disclosed information and delivering key messages to the public

5. Disclosure
The report compiled from such technical scrutiny are released into the public domain in a usable, simplified version for any non-technical person to read and easily interpret. Ie doing away with jargon.
Here is where citizen centered advocacy comes into play.

6. Multi Stakeholder Group-MSG
An essential feature of CoST is the multi stakeholder approach which brings together government, private industry, civil society and media to pursue a common goal.
This is achieved with the establishment of a Multi Stakeholder Group comprising representatives of each stakeholder group. The MSG is responsible for providing leadership and setting policy and standards for the CoST Program. And the role of Civil Society is pivotal in this regard. You should see how a Capacitated media fraternity becomes vibrant and objective after they are taken through a training program on the Construction cycle.

7. Giving Space to the ordinary Citizen
Case Study 1
Malawi’s Toll free SMS Innovation
Giving Space to the ordinary Citizen

8. Follow up Mechanism & Continuous Engagement / Monitoring
a subsystem of an e-procurement platform for easy access for citizens to data on as many infrastructure projects as possible on Water, Roads, housing. Energy contracts
Citizens will thus be empowered to demand accountability

9. Role of CSO’s, Private Sector & Media
Policy Change
Voice of the Voiceless
Monitoring and holding Duty Bearers to account

10. Open Contracting through CoST
Levels playing field
Yields measurable and visible results
Value for money as ultimate goal

11. Call to Member States
Consider adopting Citizen Engagement in procurement & implementation matters
Join the CoST Program
Be part of Open Contracting Family

12. Thank You very Much for your attention
The End
Thank You very Much for your attention