About Us

ABOUT US

The Office of the Director of Public Officers Declarations (ODPOD) is an independent public body within the Malawi Government established under Section 6 (1) of the Public Officers’ (Declaration of Assets Liabilities and Business Interests) Act, 2013. The Act was passed by Parliament in, 2013, but it came into force in 2014 to provide the legal and institutional framework for the implementation of provisions of Section 88 A and Section 213 of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi which require the State President, Vice President, Cabinet, Members of Parliament and prescribed public officers to declare their assets liabilities and business interests upon assuming office.
The objective of the Act is to promote public confidence in the public service including in the offices of the public and elected officials. The Directorate, appointed by the Public Appointments Committee of Parliament, headed by the Director who is assisted by the Deputy Director is responsible for the overall administration of the Act, including enforcement, regulation and monitoring of public assets liabilities and business interests declarations.


Mandate: Enforce declaration of assets, liabilities and business interests by certain public officers and connected matters
Vision: A Public service of high integrity and trusted by all
Mission:To promote public confidence in the public service by receiving, verifying and publicising public officers’ declarations and, educating the public on the declaration system.


CORE VALUES
  • Integrity: Adherence to moral and ethical principles
  • Accountability: Taking responsibility for actions
  • Transparency: Honesty and openness in doing things
  • Impartiality: Uniformity in treatment of stakeholders
  • Innovation: Embracing change and continuous improvement
  • Professionalism: High standards of skills and competencies
  • Courtesy: Embracing a culture of respect for others
  • Teamwork: Working together cohesively

OBJECTIVE
“Promoting Public Confidence in the Public Service”
ORGANIZATION

The Directorate is headed by the Director and assisted by the Deputy Director, both of whom are appointed by the Public Appointments Committee (PAC) of Parliament. The Director is responsible for the overall administration of the Public Officers Declaration of (Assets, Liabilities and Business Interests) Act, 2013, including enforcement, regulation and monitoring of declarations submitted by listed public officers.

The Functions of the Director include the following:
The Office of the Director of Public Officers Declarations (ODPOD) through its Documentation and Records Department; Public Education Department; Receiving Monitoring and Verification Department and the Planning, Policy & Research Department enforces, regulates and monitors declarations by among others doing the following:-

  • Receive declarations from listed public officers;
  • Verify declarations submitted by listed public officers;
  • Recommend to the Minister the development of rules and regulations necessary for the proper implementation of this Act;
  • Generally advise public officers concerning their obligations under the Public Officers’ (Declaration of Assets Liabilities and Business Interests) Act.
  • Generally advise public officers concerning their obligations under this Act;
  • provide technical assistance to listed public officers on the correct method of filing declarations;
  • annually publicize in the Gazette:- the names of listed public officers who have complied with this Act:-
  • the names of listed public officers who have not complied with this Act; and


      • a summary of declarations filed by each listed public officer; provide, annually, an assessment report of compliance by public officers with the provisions of this Act to the Minister who shall lay the report before the National Assembly; enforce listed public officers’ compliance with this Act by referring non-compliance with this Act to relevant employment authorities with recommendations for appropriate sanctions; upon verification of declarations, report any evidence or reasonable suspicion of criminal activity by a listed public officer to the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Police, or the Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, as the case may be; and report any elected public officer, Minister or any other listed public officer who, in the opinion of the Director, may properly be dealt with by the Monitoring Committee, to the Monitoring Committee, if such listed public officer fails to comply with the provisions of this Act.