The Government of Malawi has revealed that it is in discussions with the World Bank for a possible extension of the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) program, whose current phase, GESD 4.0, is set to conclude in March next year.

GESD Coordinator, Charles Chunga, told Zodiak that consultations are progressing well and the next phase is expected to expand its reach to include city councils, ensuring that urban local governments also benefit from infrastructure and service delivery initiatives.

“We are already in talks with the World Bank to extend GESD beyond its current phase. The new phase will likely cover city councils so that they, too, can benefit from improved service delivery and development projects,” said Chunga.

Chunga made the remarks on Monday after a World Bank Mission toured GESD-funded projects in Mulanje and Thyolo Districts. 

The delegation, which also included officials from the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC), inspected projects such as the newly constructed upstairs Thyolo Boma Primary School and Ntambanyama Market.

He noted that the four-year initiative has supported several flagship projects across most local councils, although some districts—such as Mulanje—have experienced slower implementation due to logistical challenges.

“We are proud of the progress made under GESD 4.0. Many district councils have shown great improvement in how they plan, manage, and deliver projects,” Chunga added.

During the same visit, Thyolo District Commissioner, Hudson Kuphanga, commended the program, saying it has greatly enhanced development delivery at council level despite occasional delays in disbursements.

“GESD has transformed our councils in a big way. However, we still face challenges with delayed funding. I would urge authorities to consider centralising the funding process to ensure contractors are paid on time and projects are completed within schedule,” said Kuphanga.

Under GESD 4.0, Thyolo District is expected to receive over K1.5 billion for the construction of Thaboni Market, Khwethemule Health Post, and Ngomano Secondary School block.