Question & Answers
African Mayors ask about LED
How to effectively lobby for better resource allocation for local government in a LED national process ?
In our countries, the efficiency of local governments in implementing LED is generally hampered by poor resource allocation. Are there examples where the adoption of LED as a national policy has served as an opportunity to question and effectively lobby for better financial resource distribution between central government and local governments ? Which actors were instrumental in bringing about such changes?
Daniel Chisenga
Mayor of Lusaka, Zambia
Some lessons from the Mozambican experience
It may help to take a comparative look at the Mozambican experience in financial/fiscal decentralisation as presented by our fellow member Eduardo Nguenha here: http://ledna.org/blog/sharing-mozambican-experience-fiscalfinancial-decentralization. Hope it does provide some insights in answering your question.
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Local Governments in Africa,
Local Governments in Africa, welcome to
His Worship is asking a very important question.
I have observed similar situations in another major city in east Africa during my research on the same topic. Mayors, division leadears and district leaders often contemplete on recieving "resources' from the central government. They spend countless hours of lobbying and of writing proposals to entice the central governament to yeild and say:
" Ok...here is the $$$ you need for your local government to initiate and implement LED programs; oh...and let me know next year if you need more $$$ to sustain these programs"!
Sometimes it may happen excactly like this. But often times it does not!
I believe we all agree LED does not work like this. And I am not going to preach here how it works. What I want to suggest instead is for the local governments (LG) and leaders to look within themselves....and truly idetnify what apportunies or influences they may have ...which can spark entropreneurship activities , or help an existing business to expand and hire more local people. Your City is populated with large, medium and small bussiness. Think of how you can meet their needs. Partner with them. Learn from them.
The truth of the matter is LGs and municipalities do not still have the capacity (staff, research, technology, partnerships) to devise a meanigful LED. The LGs are not capable of reaching out to the private sector. The relationship is unenthustiastic. The private sector and business associations often do not trust the LGs due to lack of transperncy and lack of due process. Businesses already know they cant get help from the LGs. They run to the minstriesfor help and guidance instead.
I don't believe his Worship is looking for a quick fix. He knows what needs to get done. But his staff are not able to give him the help he wants. They are busy with thier day to day tasks. They cannot take on additional responsibility. He cannot attract qualified staff that can help him. They would rather work with NGOs and governament ministries. This is the reality of most local governments in Africa.
LED by definition is a local matter. National governments deligated some authority and resources to your government. You can only work with what you have. Work with the local resources--private sector, business, institutions, NGO, the Investmenti Authority Agency and etc. I also suggest that you reach out to third and fourth year univeristy students and offer them internship apportunies. Inspire them. Let them help you with reaserch and identify apportunities and partnerships. Surely, the are the agents of change.
Prepare a long term plan and make sure the next Mayor picks it up from where you left off, improves and implements it - - so on and so forth.
Tapping local resources for LED
Thank very much for this interesting suggestion Nur. The issues you raised are of great importance if we are to carry forward the LED in local government in our countries. Quite frankly, there will never be enough resources and it make little point to keep belabouring that point. Instead there is much to gain in reflecting creatively on how to harness local resources and existing potential of local population to prosperity for all. Local governments are ideally place to spearhaed such virtuous circle.
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