Introduction: Aid Effectiveness, Decentralisation and Local

GovernanceHarmonisation, Decentralisation and Local

Governance

Session OverviewIntroduction course structure

Introduction participants

Declarations and guidelines on (support to) DLG

Decentralisation and aid effectivenssParis DeclarationAccra AgendaDPWG-LGD General and Specific Guiding

Principles

Exercise: Brings & TakesIdentify and write down in one sentence

together with your name: Brings: One specific, valuable insight that they are

bringing (green post-its) Takes: One challenge they are facing, which they

would like to address during this course (yellow post-its) 

Connect the “Brings” and “Takes” with the various sessions of the course

Assign one person to present the group

1985 - European Charter on Local Self Government

Adopted by almost all Member States of the Council of Europe

Recognises that local authorities are one of the main foundations of any democratic regime

Recognises the right of citizens to participate in the conduct of public affairs

1996 – Habitat AgendaIstanbul Declaration on Human Settlements:

"Sustainable human settlements development can be achieved through the effective decentralisation of responsibilities, policy management, decision-making authority and sufficient resources, including revenue collection authority, to local authorities, closed to and most representatives of their constituencies" (paragraph 177)

"Governments should examine and adopt, as appropriate, policies and legal frameworks from other States that are implementing decentralisation effectively" (paragraph 180)

adopted at the UN Habitat conference in Nairobi 2000 by UN and representatives of the world associations of cities and local authorities

framework for the practice of local democracy, as a vital contribution to improving people’s living conditions in cities all over the world

articles based on the European Charter for Local Self Government

2000 - World Charter for Local Self Government

2005 - Kofi Annan“Local authorities are essential partners. While our goals are global (MDGs), they can most effectively be achieved through action at local level“

2007/2009 - UN Habitat Guidelines2007: International Guidelines on

Decentralisation and Strengthening of Local Authorities, nine guidelines to promote good governance at all levels and to strengthen local authorities

2009: International Guidelines on Decentralisation and Access to Basic Services for all

2008 - European CharterThe European Charter on Development

Cooperation in Support of Local Governance aims to: Promote a national framework that fosters local

democratic governanceStrengthen democratic governance at the local

levelPromote social and economic development for the

reduction of poverty and inequalityStrengthen fiscal decentralisation and financing of

local auhtorities.

2010 - Kampala call to ActionThis document, adopted at the Global Forum on

Local Development promotes:The role of LG in national development policies to

reach the MDGsCreation of conditions for LGs to develop their own

policies and mobilise local resources Implementation of international principles on local

democracy, good governance and decentralisation at all government levels.

DPWG-LGD (2006)The independent Donor Partner Working Group

on Local Governance and Decentralisation was established to:enhance coordination and harmonisation of

assistance in the area of decentralisation and local governance

contribute to an improved understanding of different donor approaches

build consensus around fundamental issues to be considered when supporting decentralisation and local governance processes.

Activities of DPWG-LGD

Sharing experiences and good practices by:regular meetings and workshopspreparation of studies to take stock of experiencespreparation of guiding principles and guidelinescapacity development

General guiding principles for enhancing alignment and harmonisation on LGD (2008)

Aim:Foster exchange, dialogue and cooperation

between actors with a view to promote harmonisation

Encourage common understanding of key concepts

Improve coherence, complementarity and effectiveness of initiatives in support of DLG

Main principles: Paris Declaration

harmonisation

ownership

alignment

managingfor results

mutual accountability

Twelve specific guiding principles for enhancing aid effectiveness that will apply to specific country contexts

Steps to be taken in order to apply the principles in a more operational manner

Based on the Accra Agenda for ActionInclude all stakeholders (also LG)Design country-based action plans for

implementation

OwnershipSGP 1: Act strategically to strengthen the national

framework and key actors in fostering DLG

SGP 2: Take the DLG contenxt as a starting point

SGP 3: Strengthen domestic capacity development for planning, implementing and adjusting DLG reforms at all levels.

AlignmentSGP 4: Design aligned response strategies

according to the degree of ownership, commitment and political will to DLG

SGP 5: Ensure synergies and consistency between support to the national decentralisation framework and sector support

SGP 6: Strengthen fiscal decentralisation and local authorities financing

Harmonisation ISGP 7. Build on and strengthen nationally driven

DLG policies with harmonised strategic responses from DPs to different degrees of and commitment to DLG

SGP 8. Implement division of labour amongst DPs so that the mix of support programmes and aid modalities covers the key issues and actors in the countr specific DLG process

Harmonisation II

SGP 9. Harmonise approaches to DLG capacity development in sector support programmes

SGP 10. Adopt incentive systems in donor agencies that work in favour of harmonisation efforts

Managing for results

SGP 11. Support the establishment and strengthening of domestic monitoring and evaluation systems of DLG reforms

Mutual accountability

SGP 12. Build on and support DLG-reforms that strenghten accountability on both the supply and demand sides