» RCRP-2 enhances skills in financial management software

Specialists and officers key to the implementation of the Regional Climate Resilience Programme (RCRP-2) have completed an intensive training program on financial management software. This is a critical step in enhancing the programme’s capacity to deliver climate-resilient solutions across Malawi’s 28 district councils. TomPro is a cutting-edge technology designed to enhance project management and implementation capabilities, ensuring that RCRP-2's initiatives are executed efficiently and effectively. “Tompro is a financial management information software developed by Tomate from France. It is a system recommended and mostly used by World Bank projects. Since the RCRP-2 procured this software, we, as users, are being trained on what this system does and how we should use it,” said the Programme’s Finance Management Specialist, Zondiwe Kadango. The system is tailored to track budgets, expenditures, and performance-based grants (PBGs) under RCRP-2’s components, including the Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC), risk management, infrastructure investments, and adaptive climate services. “Automation of our financial system will offer a faster, more accurate way to manage our finances. It will enhance compliance, improve security, and provide access to real-time insights. “The focus of the training was to equip us to understand how the system works, including what reports it can produce. The system will help us, as RCRP, in the production of reports faster,” he explained. Kadango added: “Since the system is customised to donor-financed projects like ours, we will be able to produce reports like the Interim Financial Report much quicker and neater than the current manual system.” One of the participants, an accountant within the department, Paul Kumwenda, said the TomPro training has equipped him with valuable knowledge and skills. “That will enhance my work at the Project office. Specifically, I have gained new tools and processes in streamlining my workflow. I will be able to complete tasks more efficiently and accurately, since the process is automated.” He said. Kumwenda added: “The training is a valuable investment in my career growth and development, and I'm excited to apply my new skills moving forward.” Fifteen officers, including those from the Department of Economic Planning and Development, from Information Communication Technology, Procurement and Monitoring and Evaluation, were part of the training, effectively ensuring transparency and accountability in addressing water-related climate shocks like floods and droughts. After the training, RCRP-2 is using the system in processing all accounting data, significantly reducing the time for producing various reports.