Decentralization, Democracy, and Development

Yongmei Zhou

Description

The question of whether political, fiscal, and administrative decentralization improves government effectiveness is hotly debated among researchers and policy makers. 'Decentralization, Democracy, and Development' contributes to the empirical literature on decentralization and the debate on whether it is a viable and desirable state-building strategy for post-conflict countries.
This book is a collection of eight papers written by nine authors who were intimately involved in the complex decentralization reform process in Sierra Leone from 2003-07. During this period, Sierra Leone's government established elected district and urban councils across the country, transferred certain responsibilities for primary services and local investment and some financial resources to the new councils, and invested heavily in building the administrative infrastructure and capacity of the local councils. Compared to most other Sub-Saharan African countries that have embarked upon decentralization, Sierra Leone's progress in building local government capacity and restructuring the fiscal system is enviable. The authors conclude that improved security and public services are possible in a decentralizing country and Sierra Leone's progress would not have been possible without significant effort at fiscal decentralization and intensive investment in local government capacity building. The most critical ingredient for this promising but fragile reform process is the dynamic leadership team in charge of promoting the new institutional framework and their persistent effort to achieve quick improvement in the local government system and public services.

Informations

• Publié par: world-bank-publications
• Publié le: 02 juillet 2009
• Nombre de lectures: 49
• EAN13: 9780821379998
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

A W ORLD BANK COUNTR Y STUD Y
Decentralization, Democracy,
and Development
Recent Experience from Sierra Leone
Edited by Yongmei Zhou
THE WORLD BANK A W O R L D B A NK C O UNTRY STUD Y
Decentralization, Democracy,
and Development
Recent Experience from Sierra Leone






Edited by Yongmei Zhou





















Copyright © 2009
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank
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All rights reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America
First Printing: June 2009
Printed on recycled paper

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ISBN-13: 978-0-8213-7999-8
eISBN: 978-0-8213-8001-7
ISSN: 0253-2123 DOI: 10.1596/978-0-8213-7999-8

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been requested.
Contents
Foreword ................................................................................................................................. viii
Editors and Contributors ......................................................................................................... x
Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................................xii
Abbreviations and Acronyms ............................................................................................. xiii
Introduction.............................................................................................................................. xv
Yongmei Zhou

Literature on Decentralization and Post-Conflict State-Building...............................xv
Brief Background on Sierra Leone................................................................................xvii
Unfolding Sierra Leone’s Decentralization in the Context of Post-Conflict
State-Building .........................................................................................................xviii
Has Decentralization Improved Coverage and Quality of Primary Health,
Agriculture, and Primary Education Services? ..................................................xxvi
Has Decentralization Energized Civic Participation in Local Governance?....... xxviii
Sustainability Challenges in Sierra Leone ..................................................................xxix
Conclusions: What Have We Learned from Sierra Leone’s Experience?................ xxx
Notes...............................................................................................................................xxxii

1. Establishing the Legislative, Political, and Administrative Framework for
Local Government and Decentralization in Sierra Leone.................................................. 1
Emmanuel Gaima

How the Decentralization Policy and Local Government Act 2004 Were
Developed .................................................................................................................... 1
Statutory Instrument and Timetable for Decentralization ............................................ 3
Local Government Act 2004 and the Political Framework 4
Local Government Act 2004 and Other Laws (Complementarity and
Contradictions) ............................................................................................................ 6
Administrative Framework to Support Decentralization ............................................. 7
Role of Institutional Reform and Capacity Building Project: World Bank
Intervention––Arguments and Process/Actors ....................................................... 9
Decentralization Program in Design .............................................................................. 11
Notes................................................................................................................................... 13

2. Fiscal Decentralization: Building the Financial Capacity of Local
Governments............................................................................................................................ 15
Adams Sanpha Kargbo
iii iv Contents

Legislative Base ................................................................................................................. 15
Revenue Mobilization ...................................................................................................... 16
Institutional Framework .................................................................................................. 18
Grants System.................................................................................................................... 18
Local Government Development Grants Program ...................................................... 20
Size of Fiscal Transfers ..................................................................................................... 22
Paying the Grants to Councils......................................................................................... 23
Financial Management Capacity of the Councils ......................................................... 24
Achievements ....................................................................................................................25
Notes................................................................................................................................... 26

3. Administrative Decentralization: Building the Non-Financial Capacity of
Local Governments ................................................................................................................. 28
Alhassan Kanu

Local Governance before Passage of Local Government Act 2004............................. 28
Emergence of the New Local Councils .......................................................................... 30
Planning for Capacity Building Prior to the Passage of Local Government Act
2004.............................................................................................................................. 31
Planning for Capacity Building after Passage of Local Government Act 2004......... 31
Providing and Developing Human Capacity ............................................................... 35
Role of Coaches in Capacity Building............................................................................ 42
Achievements in Infrastructure Capacity Development ............................................. 42
Development of Local Council Administrative and Governance Capacity.............. 43
Critical Challenges to Capacity Building for Local Governance ................................ 53
Future Possible Changes to Capacity Development .................................................... 56
Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 58
Notes................................................................................................................................... 59

4. Decentralization in Practice...........