CSONA, in partnership with Bwalo Initiative, implemented a seven-month project aimed at promoting inclusive urban governance and responsive city management for residents of Zomba City. The initiative, funded under a broader effort to strengthen citizen participation and transparency in urban planning processes, sought to enhance the democratic engagement of local communities in shaping the future of their city.

Through this project, CSONA played a key role in building the capacity of local governance structures such as Ward Development Committees (WDCs) and Neighborhood Development Committees (NDCs), enabling them to engage meaningfully with the Zomba City Council. By equipping these structures with knowledge and tools, the project empowered local actors to take part in decision-making and hold duty bearers accountable.

A central pillar of the project was improving dialogue and feedback mechanisms between Zomba residents and the city’s leadership. This helped bridge communication gaps, leading to more responsive and inclusive urban governance. As a result, residents were actively involved in reviewing and contributing to the development of the Zomba Socio-Economic Profile (SEP) and the Urban Development Plan (UDP).

While the project successfully delivered on key governance and planning objectives, it faced some limitations. Notably, the development of the Urban Structural Plan could not be completed due to resource constraints, and the short seven-month timeline proved to be a challenge in achieving some of the more ambitious goals. Nonetheless, the initiative laid a solid foundation for ongoing citizen engagement in urban development processes and demonstrated the importance of collaboration between civil society and local authorities in strengthening urban governance.