Decentralization entails the transfer of political, fiscal and
administrative powers to sub-national units of government. The
process of decentralization imposes greater responsibility on local
politicians, officials and citizens in the organization and
delivery of public services. This should enhance responsiveness and
accountability, and improve the quality and speed of
decision-making.
BMB Mott MacDonald has been extensively involved in legal,
political and institutional aspects of decentralization and local
governance and in building capacities at various levels. This has
included:
- Support to transparent and predictable distribution of
financial resources among the different government levels
- Development of a solid self-financing base, for example by
introducing or improving local taxes
- Creation of the legal and policy frameworks necessary to
develop a system of qualified local civil services
- Preparation of financial and economic development plans which
promote active involvement of local entrepreneurs, through
tailor-made public-private partnership arrangements
- Establishing performance indicators for local service delivery,
which make it possible to match greater local autonomy with greater
transparency and to link actual performance to greater control over
resources
- Managing, training and monitoring human resources at
provincial, district and municipal levels
- Review of key tasks and core functions to be kept or even
strengthened at the higher level, both to ensure coherence in
public administration, and to improve the quality of overall
guidance and support
- Design and introduction of Information and Communication
Technology and the related human and organization infrastructure,
to ensure two-way communication between the various levels and to
enhance overall efficiency and transparency
