Parliament yesterday approved International Development Association (IDA) financing worth about $130 million (K229.5 billion) for local government service delivery and export financing, with lawmakers urging stronger accountability and oversight. On Gesd 2.0, Mwanamvekha said the project aims “to strengthen efficiency in financial resource management and multi-level governance for improved service delivery at the local government level”. Mzimba South legislator Khumbo Kachale said approval of the $80 million Gesd grant had strengthened government’s capacity to fulfil its pledge to increase the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocation to K5 billion. Kachale urged the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to continue mobilising grant financing for development programmes. He said Gesd 2.0 should go beyond financing systems and infrastructure by investing in citizen oversight.