Transcript CLGF
2014 Pacific Local Government Research Roundtable Part of: 2014 PLGF &CLGF Port Moresby
DECENTRALIZATION
Implementing the OL: –Policy Shifts &Impacts on Service Delivery Frontiers
By Sir Paul Songo Special Task Team –ROL-PG&LLG 19 th May 2014
CONTENT
Background Key Points Aims of the Organic Law Elected & Appointed Representatives Policy Issues Decentralization Key Service Delivery Challenges Planning Service Improvement Program Defined Roles and Responsibilities Performances & Management Issues Management Final Remark
KEY POINTS OF THE PRESENTATION
Aims of the Organic Law are Noble Very Elaborate Government Structure
Decentralization is a must for PNG
Decentralization has worked in two forms in PNG
Key Service Delivery Challenges
System of Bottom –Up Planning
Implementation –Service Delivery Program Who should do what in delivering services?
Performance & Management Issues
BACKGROUND
BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AS:
Between 1997 -2002 Former President of POMOTU-NDREHET /KURTI –ANDRA Rural Local – Level Government (Mid North Coast Manus Province) and Former Member of the JDP&BPC Former Member of Manus Provincial Assembly Former Member of the Manus Provincial Executive Council , and
Between 2003 -2010 Program Manager for the Capacity –Building and Institutional Strengthening Program (CBISP) for Local Government Leaders and their Officers -PNG
AIMS OF THE PRESENT REFORM
Improve Delivery of Service Decentralizing Powers and Responsibilities; Place more Public Servants to Districts and Local Government Administration; Communities plan their needs under the Planning System; Funds follow Functions; Reduce Mismanagement &Misuse of Public Funds; Bring Decision –Making closer to the People; Improve Monitoring and Reporting
ELECTED & APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVES
The Organic Law created
38, 836
leadership position:
22 89 Governors, Chairpersons –PEC &Chairpersons-JPP&BPC; Chairpersons of JDP&BPC; 319 Presidents & Chairpersons of LLG Assemblies 6,186 Ward Councillors; 30, 930 Associate Members of WDC; 980 Appointed Representatives.
POLICY ISSUES
DECENTRALIZATION must remain the cornerstone of any future government system in PNG Finding the Best Political System; Fair Representation through the Ballot Boxes and not by Appointments; Power –Sharing between levels of governments; Participation in Decision –Making; High Performance Public Sector Accountability and Transparency.
DECENTRALIZATION
WORKED IN TWO FORMS IN PNG 1976 Organic Law on Provincial Government 1995 Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local –level Governments
The former allowed and provinces.
greater autonomy over political, administrative and financial between national government The later, very centralized policy, administration and financial control based with the national government, has elected and appointed representatives.
KEY SERVICE DELIVERY CHALLENGES
Attitudes Capacity of the Public Sector Lack of Operations Funding Deterioration of existing Infrastructure and facilities Access Absence of a Sustainable ‘Enabling Environment’ & ‘Service Delivery Centre’ at District level High Administration costing Incentives for Rural Workers No One –Size fits All
PLANNING
System of Bottom –Up Planning
Ward Plan should identify Needs LLG Plan set Priorities of Projects District Plan should determines Development Program Strategies, Programs and Funding Provincial Integrated Development Plan (Integrated Planning) insures bottom up planning meet top down policies and resources required National Sector Plans provide Policy Directions and set Targets National Plan articulates the National Vision & Development Policy Directives Note: Our Experience: projects) priorities.
Plans cascade upwards BUT funding does not cascade downwards according to approved Plans (programs and
IMPLEMENTATION: SERVICE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS
District Service Improvement Program (DISP) by Open Member Provincial Service Improvement Program (PSIP) by Provincial Member
Key Points Funding follow Political and other specific Interests Real Community Needs ignored Approved Plans Programs &Projects ignored Recurrent costing not considered Ownership issue Sustainability is a problem Lack of effective coordination, alignment and integration between Programs
Note: Public Funds being channelled through too many sources.
SERVICE DELIVERY AGENCIES
National Government Provincial Government District Administration & LLG District Becoming Service Centre Ward Management Donors Churches Non –State Actors Private Sector Community
Key Point: There is duplication of roles among all Agencies Parallel Programs is a waste of limited resources Confusing Procurement Processes exist Counter –part funding is a problem for many rural LLGs
Note> Clearly defined roles will minimize duplication and confusion
PERFORMANCES ISSUES
There are Critical Issues requiring attention especially at the Sub –National level in our administration at the Provincial, District, and Local Government levels Administration;
At the Functional level there is also service delivery challenges in Health; Education; Agriculture Extension Services; Transportation; Village Courts and the Informal Sector Activities in the villages.
MANAGEMENT ISSUES
Policy level Defining what constitutes ‘ Core Basic Services in the communities?
Operational level Capacity/Weak Linkages/ Relationship//Staff Incentives/Leadership
LLG/Ward Level No proper Up-to -Date Data maintained at community level - Too much Hand -Out Mentality and not enough Helping -Out
Other Cross –cutting Issues eg. HIV AIDS, Gender Equality etc.
MESSAGE In the heist for ’Improving Service Delivery’, we are experiencing a number of trends:
Funds no longer follow Functions and in line with approved Plans;
Funds follow politically or specific interests Politicians are replacing Public Servants in delivering services
Self -Reliance is being eroded and replaced with the Hand –Out mentality
Sustainability of Projects and infrastructure at community level not guaranteed.
EM TASOL Thank you!!!