DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF MALAWI BUDGET TRACKING SYSTEM:ENHANCING PUBLIC FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY AND CITIZEN ACCOUNTABILITY IN MALAWI

The Malawi Public Budget Tracking System is a web-based system designed to improve transparency, accountability, and public participation in the management of public funds in Malawi. The management of public budgets involves several activities, including budget allocation, expenditure monitoring, development project implementation, and reporting. However, limited access to budget information and difficulties in monitoring project progress can make it challenging for citizens to determine whether public funds are being used for their intended purposes. These challenges may reduce public trust and make it difficult to identify delays, irregularities, and incomplete development projects. The proposed MPBTS aims to address these challenges by providing a centralized platform for recording, monitoring, and reporting public budget information. The system enables authorized users to enter and manage budgets, track expenditures, monitor development projects, and generate comprehensive reports summarizing the entire budget lifecycle, from initial allocation to project completion. Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping is incorporated to display project locations and support geographical monitoring of development activities. In addition, AI-assisted moderation is proposed to help identify potentially inappropriate, irrelevant, or suspicious citizen reports for human review. Security measures, including role-based access control, audit trails, and data protection mechanisms, are included in the system design to improve the reliability and accountability of information management. The system is expected to make budget information more accessible, simplify project monitoring, and support informed decision-making by relevant stakeholders. Ultimately, the comprehensive Malawi Public Budget Tracking System seeks to strengthen public oversight and promote responsible, ethical management of public resources across Malawi.