Monday in Kusungu

 

Work starts at 8.00am. I work in the Internal Audit Office (to which I have a key) together with my 2 Malawi colleagues. The office is “minimalist” but has everything necessary (tables, chairs, cupboard, fan and electricity points). We have our own generator to counteract the frequent power cuts.

 

Coffee arrives (on a tray – good Malawian coffee) mid morning. Day normally starts with exchange of pleasantries and good Malawian humour, then to work. Current work streams are: completing writing of Internal Audit Manual, planning for upcoming audit visits, correspondence with UK Head Office and writing of Executive Summaries of audit reports.

 

I believe the values I am adding to my host organisation are: a) bridging the gap between the organisation’s head office and the Malawian operations (some of which are in remote villages where few white people visit) b) imparting my experience of finance / internal audit to this emerging department c) manifesting that a non Malawian can understand and survive in a Malawian environment d) establishing cross border working relationships.

 

MLF has an established Head Office in Kasungu. Having an IT Manager and HR Director made my life easier upon arrival. On the 1^st day at work I got “communicated” with local mobile phone, e-mail account and my Sony Vaio connected to the local area network. What also made my introduction to Malawi so much easier was the accommodation provided, a very well appointed guesthouse. I was expecting much more primitive accommodation!