Decentralisation
Corinne Waelti, seecon international gmbh
Decentralisation
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Decentralisation
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Contents
1. Introduction
2. Implementation
3. Outcomes
4. Case Examples
5. References
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1. Introduction
What is Decentralisation and Why is It Needed?
What?
Decentralisation occurs when a central government cedes powers to
actors or institutions at lower levels.
Why?
• Increased popular participation
• Increased accountability and efficiency
• Needs and preferences of the community can be identified better
• Improved equity and justice
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2. Implementation
Decentralising Water and Sanitation Management
Several aspects need to be considered in order to successfully
implement a decentralisation process:
1. Central government should work
together with local democratic
institutions
2. Sufficient and appropriate transfer
of power
3. Support equity and justice
4. Establish fair and accessible
justification
5. Support local civic education
6. Give it time
7. Monitor and develop
8. Document the process
9. Find places for local meetings
10.Inform the public
11.Avoid corruption
Source: RIBOT (2002)
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2. Implementation
Possible Problems with Implementing Decentralisation
• Lacking capacity and resources of the local government
• Insufficient transfer of power
• Corruption and elite capture
• Missing transparency
Source: MASOUD (n.y.)
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3. Outcomes
Benefits of Decentralisation
Equity
• Greater retention and fairer distribution
Efficiency
• Accounting for costs in decision making
• Higher accountability
• Reduced transaction costs
• Services are matched to needs
• Mobilisation of local knowledge
• Improved coordination
• Providing local communities with resources can contribute to
development
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3. Outcomes
Measuring the Success of Decentralisation
There are several difficulties in measuring if a decentralisation act has
been successful:
• Data before and after decentralisation is needed in order to make
comparisons
• Separating outcomes from other impacts is difficult
• Outcomes cannot be aggregated: How can the success of
decentralisation be evaluated if there are positive as well as
negative outcomes?
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4. Case Examples
Examples for Successful and Unsuccessful Implementation
A success story
Lacking responsibilities
Successes:
- Government is more responsive to
the needs of the poor (more
spending on social services,
education and training)
- Fairer allocation of government
funding
- Higher accountability due to more
active involvement of small groups
and higher bottom-up pressure
possibility
Problems:
- Poor government at local level
which cannot manage the increased
responsibilities
- Lack of human resources
Example from Bolivia, Source: FAGUET (2003)
Decentralisation
Possible Solutions:
- Empowering residents with:
- Increased access to information
- Knowledge of rights (law),
economics, finance, etc.
Example from South Africa, Source: DE JONG (2009)
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5. References
DE, I. (2009): Can Decentralisation Improve Rural Water Supply Services? Economic and Political Weekly (EPW).
FAGUET, J.P. (2003): Decentralisation and Local Government in Bolivia: An Overview from the Bottom Up. London: Crisis States
Programme. URL: sticerd.lse.ac.uk/dps/decentralisation/bolivia.pdf [Accessed: 27.08.2012]
JONG, D. de (2009): South Africa: Municipal Failures Put Decentralisation at Risk. Den Haag: International Water and Sanitation
Center (IRC). URL: http://www.source.irc.nl/page/50704 [Accessed: 27.08.2012].
MASOUD, A. (n.y.): Auditing Poverty – The Cartoons. URL: http://www.srds.co.uk/uapp2/kipanya.htm [Accessed: 27.08.2012].
RIBOT, J. (2002): Democratic Decentralisation of Natural Resources. Institutionalising Popular Participation. World Resources
Institute (WRI). URL: pdf.wri.org/ddnr_full_revised.pdf [Accessed: 06.08.2012].
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