Abstract

The study examined the extent to which Members of Parliament in Malawi participate in policy formulation by examining their participation in the formulation of the HIV/AIDS Policy (2013 – 2017). To achieve this, the study employed a qualitative research design characterized by in-depth interviews. This was followed by document analysis to triangulate responses obtained from key informants from government, MPs, donors and academics. The major conclusion of the study is that the participation of MPs in the formulation of the HIV/AIDS policy was not only partial but also at functional level when analysed using Pretty’s typology of participation. The study found that policy formulation in Malawi is mainly undertaken by bureaucrats, technocrats and government ministries as they are the key stakeholders in policy formulation. It established that Malawi’s politicians and bureaucrats are at liberty to decide whether to involve MPs as stakeholders’ in policy formulation process or not. Furthermore, the study found that MPs participation in policy formulation was indirect, and done through the participation of the Parliamentary Committee on Nutrition, HIV/AIDS. The study established that the parliamentary committee had some influence on the content of the policy as evidenced through some of the provisions found in the final draft of the policy. From a public choice theory point of view, the study discovered that the participation of members of the Parliamentary Committee on Nutrition, HIV/AIDS in the formulation of the policy was informed by a variety of interests and motivations which ranged from financial allowances to more personal interests in matters concerning HIV/AIDS.

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School	: School of Law, Economics and Government
Issued Date	: 2021

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