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Decentralization in Social Sectors

This article provides an overview of decentralization in social sectors, including education and social protection in Africa. It explores the benefits of decentralization and discusses the role of central government, subnational governments, and community groups in decision-making and service delivery. The article also addresses institutional issues and alternative policies to improve the institutional setting of public provision.

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Decentralization in Social Sectors

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  1. Decentralization in Social Sectors 1. Overview - Donald Winkler (LCSHD) 2. Institutional Issues in Education and Community Empowerment - Andrei Markov (ECSHD) 3. Social Protection in Africa - Laura Frigenti (AFTH4) December 18, 2000

  2. Decentralization in the Social Sectors Move decision making to: • Administrative units of the central government that are closer to the customer. • Lower levels of government. • Service delivery institutions. • Community groups. • The customer/client.

  3. Rationale: Decentralization in Social Sectors • Simply one element of government decentralization done for political or economic reasons. • Search for efficiency -- lower costs, improved accountability, increased supply. • Serve the client better -- greater voice, make services more demand driven, empower poor.

  4. What have we learned? About… • New role of central government social sector ministries? • Decentralization to subnational governments? • Decentralization to service providers -- schools, hospitals, etc.? • Empowering community groups -- social investment funds?

  5. Role of Central Government • Finance vs. provision. • Ensure provision of public goods. • Provide enabling environment. • Create demand/facilitate accountability.

  6. Examples from Education in LAC • Top down reform: Argentina • Community involvement in principle: Colombia • Empowering school councils: Minas Gerais • Empowering community groups: El Salvador • Empowering the parent: Chile

  7. Conclusions • Central government role is critical to success. • Subnational governments may replicate the ills of centralized provision. • Decentralization to community groups can lower costs and increase supply. • Decentralization to service providers can raise quality.

  8. Institutional Issues in African Education and Community Empowerment.Andrei R.Markov

  9. African Education: Main Service Delivery Issues • Under-financing • Quality of inputs • Demand constraints • Operational failures

  10. Examples of Operational Failures • Waste of teachers time and teacher absenteeism • “Ghost” teachers phenomena • Persistence of user fees and levies in publicly financed education • Spontaneous spread of community schools, in West Africa in particular

  11. Institutional Setting ofPublic Provision • Central bureaucracy (Ministry) responsible for service delivery • Teachers are civil servants with primarily bureaucratic accountabilities • Most of public funding is spent on salary costs • Communities excluded from school management

  12. Community- based Schooling Financing- community Management -community level Issues: quality, equity, sustainability Community empowering within public provision Financing - public Management - mix of public and community Issues: rent seeking at local level, implementation delays Alternative Policies to Improve Institutional Setting

  13. Community Empowering within Public Provision • Community participate in school management • Some public funds at community disposal • Districts coordinate service delivery • Support quality of education from central level (curriculum, national examinations, teacher training)

  14. Bank Response - Operational Instruments • Community involvement in allocation of project funds - Mali, Madagascar, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia • Community Education Fund - Tanzania • SIF financing of education

  15. Community Education Fund Concept • Direct allocation of CEF funds to school • School board to take decision on spending • Non-salary items eligible • School development plans • Matching grant principle • Issues: a) community mobilization b) targeting of weak communities c) sustainability

  16. Link with Fiscal and Public Sector Reform • Budget envelope for education • Fiscal and administrative decentralization framework • Budget management capacities at district/provincial level • Sensible budget management procedures • Strengthen constituency advocating for educational decentralization

  17. Social Protection in Africa.Laura Frigenti (AFTH4)

  18. Social Risk Management Social protection consists of public interventions to assist individuals, households and communities better manage income risks.

  19. Social Protection Interventions Include: - Labor Markets - Pensions - Safety Nets and Transfers - Social Funds - Child Protection

  20. What do social funds finance? Social Funds Schools Microcredit Clinics Counseling Programs Water Supply Training Programs Nutrition Interventions Sanitation School Feeding Programs Local Roads Drainage

  21. STRENGTHS Participatory: Builds capacity and ownership at community level Feasible: Adapt to individual circumstance Cost effective Transparent and anti-bureaucratic Rapid impact

  22. SHORTCOMINGS Sustainability Integrating with rest of public sector - too little learning Poor integration with policy framework Accountability

  23. OPPORTUNITIES • Transfer participatory approach to local • governments • Adopt flexibility in operation • Trade off between fast disbursement • and quick impact and long-term • objectives

  24. EXAMPLESZIMBABWE - CAP • Implementation at local level done through district councils and authorities. • Sub-projects approved as part of district development plans. • Pre-requisite is preparation of district participatory poverty map. • Expected end of program outcome: transferring to RDCs the capacity of planning in a participatory way.

  25. Examples ZAMSIF - Community Driven Development in Practice • Zambia Social Investment Fund - Gradual and Progressive Involvement of Local Authorities in Local Development by: • Systematic Capacity Building • Direct Implementation Responsibility • Initially 2 Funding Windows: Community Investment Fund (CIF) and District Investment Fund (DIF) • Expected End-of-Program Outcome - Full Devolution of Local Development Activities.

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