Programme description

Title: Support of the Zambian Decentralisation Process
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Zambia
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Local Government and Housing; Ministry of Finance and National Planning
Overall term: 2008 to 2011

Context

The objectives of Zambia’s National Decentralisation Strategy of 2004 are to bring the state closer to the people, to allow citizens to make decisions about their own development, and to improve living standards by making the services provided by the state and regional authorities more effective and efficient.

The country’s Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) focuses on poverty reduction. The FNDP emphasises that many of the objectives formulated in it can only be achieved in a decentralised system. A central role in the management of development tasks is thus ascribed to the district authorities. As yet, however, the decentralisation strategy has only been implemented slowly.

Although Zambia’s municipal regional authorities can look back on a long tradition, until now, their constitution, responsibilities and finances have been barely protected by constitutional law. Moreover, since colonial times, local self government and decentralised sector ministries have existed in a parallel structure in the municipalities. Undefined responsibilities and a lack of coordination prevent this parallel system from working effectively at the municipal level.

Also at a national level, the division of roles and coordination mechanisms between the players in the decentralisation process are unsatisfactory.

Until now, the municipal regional authorities have not adequately fulfilled their service functions. They receive only minimal financial grants from the national level. There is still insufficient poverty and development-oriented planning and implementation, and accounting relating to the use of public funds is not transparent enough. Many citizens are increasingly mistrustful of the state.

Objective

The Zambian decentralisation process is making progress across the board:

• Local regional authorities are receiving larger financial grants and local tax revenues. Financial management is improved.
• Selected municipalities are carrying out efficient, transparent and citizen-oriented services, setting an example to others.
• The Local Government Association and civil society players are advocating the vertical division of powers and resources.

Approach

The programme supports the Zambian Government in implementing the decentralisation policy. It is directed towards institutions and their specialist staff and management at a national level, and also towards players in the public and private sector at a provincial and municipal level. Steering and management capabilities of important partner institutions at national and sub-national levels are improved.

Advice on policy, processes, technical issues and organisation are combined. The advice takes the form of projects for change: the Zambian and German partners agree which changes are to be attempted at what times, and who will make which contribution. This instrument is very flexible and can easily be adapted to a changing situation.

The programme helps in the discussion on capacity development and facilitates dialogue processes between state institutions at different levels, for example, between the Local Government Association and civil society groups. Networks for the horizontal exchange of experiences between regional authorities are promoted, and socio-political changes are initiated, giving voters greater involvement in political decision-making.

The programme promotes the preparation, harmonisation and dissemination of successful examples, such as the knowledge of mechanisms by which municipal incomes can be increased. Software for municipal management of income and expenditure has been developed and is distributed by the government and the Local Government Association across the country.

Improving the democratically elected district representatives’ working methods and capacity to act will also contribute to an increased understanding of the importance of participation and transparency in the institutions involved.

GIZ (until December 2010 GTZ and DED) is working on the Support of the Zambian Decentralisation Process programme. Collaboration is also planned with financial cooperation.

Results achieved so far

The major stakeholders are now better informed about the decentralisation process as a result of the programme’s awareness-raising measures. They are participating more actively and calling for further action on the part of the government.

As local revenues have increased and national allocations are more transparent, municipal authorities have more financial resources at their disposal and are using a larger portion of their budgets specifically to provide services. The harmonised planning and budgeting process has led to efficiency gains.

The application of these concepts has brought about an increase in the quality of services provided. Through a mentoring programme, the concepts are to be transferred to other districts in the pilot region. The Ministry of Local Government and Housing is aiming to replicate the successful reforms across the country.

Downloads

• Facts and Figures. Support to Decentralisation Implementation (SDI) Programme
  Detailed information about the programme
  en-factsheet-support-decentralisation-implementation.pdf, 0.21 MB (English)
• Gender, HIV/AIDS and the Environment
  Mainstreaming Cross cutting Issues into the Decentralisation Process. GTZ (2010)
  en-factsheet-hiv-aids-gender-environment-zambia.pdf, 0.07 MB (English)