Upload
devin-barker
View
238
Download
2
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
An open system approach to An open system approach to decentralisation and local decentralisation and local
governancegovernanceHarmonisation, Decentralisation and Local Harmonisation, Decentralisation and Local
GovernanceGovernance
Session overview• Introduction on paradigms
• Rationale for and history of decentralisation
• Basic concepts of DLG
• Decentralisation as an ´open system´ of different interacting elements
• Blueprints to decentralisation don't exist
Democratic imperative
Decentralisation
Achieving MDGs
Pressures from below (local governments
and civil society
Effective service delivery
local economic development
urban growth and spatial planning
Potential advantages and risksPros:
improved efficiencybetter service deliverylocal democratisation and local governanceimproved equityimproved developement and poverty reduction
Cons:Mismatch mandates and delivery capacity Elite capturing and bad local governanceInterjuridisctional disparitiesLocal development not supported by central policies
Earlier wave of Decentralisation: focused on re -organization public sector (de -concentration)
1990s: recent wave of decentralisation
New model based on four building blocks:
Democratically elected local governments (devolution of
powers to autonomous local
bodies)
Local governance
(civil society participation
and downward accountability)
Local (economic)
development(pro -poor)
Decentralisedservice delivery
State modernization
and overall public sector
reform
The two waves of decentralisation
Visualisation of linkages
Administrative Decentralisation
Political Decentralisation
Fiscal Decentralisation
Broader societal reform
State reform
"Governmentality”"Governmentality”
At present
Tendency to re-centralise
Reviewing concepts of DLG
Administrative decentralisationPolitical decentralisationFiscal decentralisationFrom government to governance - involvement of
civil society and private sectorLocal economic developmentTerritorial planning
Existence of lower levels of government, agencies, field
officesDelivery of public
services & functions at lower levels
Execution ‘on behalf of’ central government
Clarifying accountability lines to local and central government (control/ tutelle)
Ensuring effective local-intergovernmental
relationshipsTransferring decision-making
authority, resources
Building institutional capacities at lower
levels
Existence of bodies separated by law with from
centreAdapting public institutions to
decentralised context
Organisation downward accountability
A well-developed and inclusive local political process (participation)
Free and fair electionsDevolution of power to local governments
Local autonomy to programme and spend
(own) resources
(ECDPM training kit)(ECDPM training kit)
Resources for Local
governments
Allocation of responsibilities among levels of government
Impact of fiscal decentralisation?
Central government control(upward accountability)
Fiscal transfer systems among different levels of government
Introduction of planning and budgeting cycle at decentralised
level
Allocation various taxes among levels of
government
Pillars for effective decentralisationLegal framework (legal, constitutional,
policy dimensions)Administrative and political dimensions Fiscal dimensionHuman resource dimensionInstitutional arrangements and
coordination
Emergence and consolidation
of legitimate, effective and viable local
governments
Recognising legitimate role (‘obligatory entry point’)
Accountability of local governments
(upwards, horizontal, downwards)
Local public finance
Local government capacity building
Responsive andaccountable
local governments
Institutional and organisational set-up for local governance process
Existence and quality of
accountability mechanisms
Mechanisms for exchange of information and dialogue
Improvement local finances
(including citizen’s willingness to pay taxes
Empowerment civil society (dialogue
partners and ‘watchdog’
Partnerships local governments, private sector and
communities in defined area
Acceptance ‘catalyst’ role local governments
New generation of local economic
development (LED) initiatives
Impact decentralised decisions on the local
economy
Link local development and territorial planning
Local coalitions in support of integrated
local development strategies
Link local level dynamics to processes
at upperlevel
Coordinating decentralisation with
territorial (spatial)planning
Is territorial division of country conducive to
decentralisation?
Ensure provision of spatial planning information (in
addition to sectoral information)
Creation of ‘regional hubs’ to ensure articulation between decentralisation and territorial planning
Promoting social and economic synergies between urban and rural municipalities
Linking admin. decentralisation with
inter-sectoral coordination
Simple and complex systems
Cooking
Simple
Predictable
Recipe
Decentralisation
Complex
Not predictable
Assessment
Scenarios
Adaptive management
Social learning
Puzzle
Simple
Predictable
Single solution
Trial & error
Machine
Complicated
Not predictable
Guidelines
Problem tree
Planning
Understanding complex realities
Looking at reality through different eyes:Multiple actorsMultiplie sectorsMultiple scalesMultiple disciplines
Decentralisation as an ‘open system’ – SGP2
Specific guiding principle 2
Adopt and ‘open systems’ approach, which enables donor partners to see and act upon the linkages between different parts of a system
This will enhance the effectiveness and impact of decentralisation support
The danger of imposing blueprints…