BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Concerns are mounting over the implementation of the Financial Inclusion and Entrepreneurship Scaling (FINES) programme in Malawi, with a civic group calling for transparency regarding the disbursement of grants reportedly promised to trainees who completed the programme.
In a formal letter dated March 7, 2026, Concerned Citizens of Malawi,a civic minded organisation advocating for transparency and accountability through its representative Edwards Kambanje, who signed the letter, has requested clarification from the FINES Programme Management on issues surrounding grant funding and programme implementation.
According to the organisation, many Malawians who participated in the FINES training programme claim they were informed that successful completion of the training would make them eligible to receive grants intended to help them establish or expand their businesses.
The grants, participants say, were widely understood to be part of the financial support package linked to the programme, which is reportedly funded through resources from the World Bank.
However, the group says concerns started emerging after trainees completed their training but allegedly did not receive the expected grants.
Instead, some trainees report that they have been encouraged to apply for loans from certain commercial banks with assurances that the loans would carry lower interest rates compared to standard lending terms.
This shift from grants to loans has reportedly caused confusion and concern among many participants, especially those who joined the programme with the expectation of receiving grant based support to start or grow their businesses.
Concerned Citizens of Malawi says it decided to intervene after receiving numerous complaints from affected individuals who are seeking clarity on what they believe to be a change in the programme’s implementation.
The organisation says transparency on the matter is critical in order to maintain public trust in development initiatives designed to empower Malawians economically.
Among the issues raised in the letter, the group is asking the programme management to explain the original purpose of the funds received from the World Bank under the FINES programme.
The organisation also wants to know whether trainees were officially promised grants after completing the training and what conditions were required to qualify for such financial support.
Additionally, the group is seeking details on the total funding the programme received from the World Bank and how much of that amount was specifically allocated for grants to trainees and small business development.
Concerned Citizens of Malawi has further asked the programme to disclose how many individuals have been trained under the initiative so far and how many have actually received grants, while also requesting explanations on why trainees are now being directed to obtain loans instead of receiving grants.
The organisation has since urged the FINES Programme Management to respond to the concerns as soon as possible, saying clear answers will help address the uncertainty faced by many Malawians who participated in the programme with hope and trust in its objectives.