Programme description

Title: Decentralisation and Local Development Assistance Programme
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Cameroon
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation (MINATD)
Overall term: 2003 to 2015

Context

Conditions for decentralisation in Cameroon have become more favourable since the start of the programme. The decentralisation laws passed in 2004, the establishment of important national coordinating bodies and the formal designation of the regions as a level of decentralised administration (2008) have contributed towards this. Nevertheless, delays to the whole process and competencies that remain insufficiently clear indicate that a central part of the reform, i.e. the comprehensive transfer of powers and resources to the closest possible level to the citizens, continues to pose a huge challenge for the country. The consequences are primarily that decentralised public services and social and technical infrastructure are not sufficiently or adequately available and that scarce resources are often channelled into bad investments. Population groups remain marginalised, especially in rural areas.

Objective

The population and decision-makers in selected regional and local authorities independently shape their own social and economic environment. They are able do so under conditions conducive to development (decentralisation, poverty reduction).

Approach

The programme provides advice to government and non-government actors regarding:

• decentralisation planning,
• the participatory mainstreaming of the decentralisation reform in the national poverty reduction strategy,
• decentralised implementation of the poverty reduction strategy in conjunction with the country’s cities, towns and municipalities.

The programme sees its role as that of catalyst and facilitator. It supports the design and implementation of the decentralisation reform through a systemic advisory approach, thereby supporting local development. The actors and institutions involved in the reform at subnational, intermediate and national level are assisted through measures to improve their skills and performance capacity, and are networked.

At subnational level, the programme cooperates with intermediate structures commissioned by the government, such as municipal supervisory authorities (comprising provincial advisory bodies for municipalities and prefectures), local finance and tax authorities, municipal schools of administration, municipal associations, municipal equalisation funds and private service providers. Intensive advisory services allow key competencies and roles to be clarified, the organisation of work to be improved and specialised skills to be broadened.

Addressing municipal administration, financial administration, mobilising local revenues, strengthening municipal councils, promoting gender equality and fostering conditions for local economic development, the programme cooperates with eighty municipalities in four regions with varying degrees of intensity. It acts in accordance with the priorities laid down by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation (MINATD) for the design and implementation of the decentralisation reform (Document d’orientation stratégique, 2005 to 2009). At the same time, with the aid of experience gained at subnational level, it can provide advice to the ministry on adapting strategic orientation and prioritisation.

Further to its support for the decentralisation reform, the programme advises the Ministry for Economic Affairs, Planning and Regional Development (Ministère des Affaires Economiques, de la Programmation et de l'Aménagement du Territoire – MINEPAT) on adapting and implementing the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). At the interface of the decentralisation reform this advice has seen success: The planning ministry has addressed integration of local authorities into public investment planning and participatory monitoring of the implementation of the poverty reduction strategy for the first time.

The programme has been part of the German-Cameroonian programme supporting decentralisation, local development and governance structures since mid 2007 and works in close coordination with KfW Entwicklungsbank. There is further close cooperation at national and at regional level with the Cameroonian National Programme for Participatory Development (Programme National de Développement Participatif – PNDP), which is being promoted by the World Bank, KfW Entwicklungsbank and AFD (Agence Française de Développement).
Advisory services for PRSPs are coordinated with other development partners such as the World Bank, the EU and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Results achieved so far

The population of the supported municipalities is actively involved in developing, monitoring and implementing local development plans.

Advice and training material and their application are widely accepted by mayors and local councils.

In the three provinces where the programme is being carried out, the actors involved better understand their role in the decentralisation process. Parallel to this, there has been a change on the part of the municipal supervisory authorities towards increased advice and support for municipalities.

Within the scope of the nationwide monitoring process undertaken under the aegis of MINEPAT, participatory monitoring of PRSP implementation takes place on an annual basis at a departmental level. 

Gender aspects and regional development approaches are mainstreamed in the revision phase of the national poverty reduction strategy.

The quantity and the quality of the information exchanged between the national administration (such as the ministries) and municipalities have improved. This also applies to the integration of experiences gained on a local level into national political dialogue, for instance by involving local authorities in public investment planning and with participatory monitoring of the implementation of the poverty reduction strategy. 

Further information

• Ministère de l’Administration Territoriale et de la Décentralisation (MINATD)
  Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation (MINATD)
  http://www.minatd.net/fr/...