Objective  1:  Promote  Self  Reliance  in  Development  and  Build  Capacity  for  Self  Sustaining   Development   6.2   Consultations  with  Stakeholders  to  Ensure  Effective  Participation  in  Development     Consultations   with   stake   holders   and   effective   participation   in   development   programmes   are   vital   for   self   reliance   and   to   ensure   sustainable   development.   Hence,   important   government   draft  policies  documents  are  distributed  for  comments  by  civil  society,  the  private  sector  and   labour   unions.   Additionally,   NGOs   desk   have   been   established   in   some   ministries   and   government   departments   including   the   Ministries   of   Foreign   Affairs,   Women   and   Children’s   Affairs,   Interior,   Health   and   the   Department   of   Social   Welfare   to   allow   for   civil   society   participation  in  government  policy  and  development  programmes.    Civil  society  has  been  participating  actively  in  various  activities  under  the  growth  and  poverty   reduction  strategy  as  well  as  on  anticorruption  issues.    For  instance,  civil  society  organisations   have   inputted   in   the   formulation   and   review   of   the   GPRS   II   and   the   annual   progress   reports   prepared   by   NDPC   on   the   GPRS   II.   Civil   society   has   also   been   represented   at   the   consultative   group   meeting   between   development   partners   and   the   government.   About   40   civil   society   organisations  participated  and  made  contributions  to  the  issues  discussed.       The   National   Tripartite   Committee   (NTC)   established   under   the   labour   act   of   2000   (Act   651)   mediates  conflict  between  government,  business  and  labour.  The  national  Tripartite  Committee   plays  a  major  role  in  the  development  of  policy  that  affects  the  three  parties.       6.3   Stakeholder  Participation  in  District  Budgeting  and  Planning  Processes   At   the   lower   level   of   governance,   civil   society   participation   in   development   programmes   and   issues   affecting   the   grass   roots   is   rather   low. �� Government   assessment   of   the   national   decentralisation  action  plan  noted  that,  there  is  no  structured  and  formalised  arrangement  that   seeks   to   foster   partnership   and   participation   of   civil   society,   traditional   institutions   and   the   private   sector   in   local   governance.   For   instance,   participation   of   the   local   people   in   district   budgeting   and   planning   is   very   limited.   Citizens   and   their   elected   assemblymen   and   women   131