USAID LOCAL IMPACT GOVERNANCE PROJECT
This presentation showcases how community mechanisms play a crucial role in service delivery and local development through engagement, participation, and feedback. It highlights thematic areas such as the formation of Ward Development Committees, annual budgeting processes, and implementation of Integrated Development Plans (IDPs). The project aims to enhance community engagement, collaborative governance, and citizen-centered projects to address local needs effectively. Positive developments include employment opportunities, empowerment grants, waste valorization initiatives, and infrastructure investments. However, challenges persist in resourcing Ward Development Committees and allocating sufficient funds for projects.
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USAID LOCAL IMPACT GOVERNANCE PROJECT Community mechanisms in Service Delivery: A catalyst towards unlocking sustainable local development Engagement, participation and feedback 26thMarch 2024
Thematic areas guiding the Discussion Formation and Operations of Ward Development Committee Annual Budgeting Process Formulation and implementation of IDPs CDF administration
Enhancing community engagement and participation Budgeting and IDP CDF WDCs Collaborative Governance Community Centered/ Driven Projects Capacitate WDCs Functionality Citizen Version Budgets and IDPs Response to citizen needs health, education, skills development, etc. Priority Setting Visibly Improved Services Community Engagement in Action Promotion of Local Economic Development Participation in DDCC by WDCs
Observed Positive Developments Employment and local economic development stimulated by mostly engaging local contractors. a. Enhanced self-reliance among women, youth and people living with disabilities due to empowerment grants/loans some clubs are involved in manufacturing soap. Local Impact is also encouraging ventures in waste valorization. b. Improved opportunities for community to participation in local development consultative process by WDCs to ensure community priorities ate reflecting in the CDF funding. c. Local Impact Training Waste Aggregator Cooperatives in Chibombo (2023)
Observed Positive Developments d. Significant investment in school, health and WASH infrastructure and provision of desks ensuring conducive learning environment. e. Local authorities have acquired earth moving and waste management equipment for rural and township roads construction and maintenance and waste collection. For instance, Kanchibiya in Muchinga Province was among the first LAs to procure earth moving equipment. New Motor Grader for Kanchibiya Constituency Picture by of Mr. Sunday Chanda MP
Challenges a. The WDCs that are instrumental in enabling community participation are poorly resourced thereby rendering community involvement a challenge. In rural districts like Ngabwe, WDCs walk long distances, have challenges with stationery and keep documents home. b. The desire to fund projects in all wards results in CDFC allocating insufficient funds below the recommended amount by the technical evaluation committee. c. Limited entrepreneurship, group governance and financial literacy skills among beneficiaries of grants/loads resulting in mismanagement of funds. Atuyandane Community School in Chibombo with a new 1x2 CRB - Local Impact facilitated the prioritization meeting when the WDC selected the project
Recommendations Training WDCs in basic principles of project management, stakeholder engagement and make incremental allocation of operational resources to the WDCs. a. b. Orient local contractors in preparation of bid documents, project execution and social and environmental safeguards. Design programs and assign resources for mentorship and training of clubs, cooperatives and small-scale businesses in entrepreneurship, financial management and group governance. c. Local Impact Training WDCs in Prioritization of Community Needs (2023)
Recommendations Contd d. Expedite IDP completion to ensure coordinated development investments in all districts and to allow LAs budget for CDF as they prepare their annual budgets. e. Enhance local and national oversight mechanisms such as the formation of institutional integrity committee (IC) and continued sensitization by ACC. f. Invest in WDCs to extend their efforts to other functions in addition to CDF ACC Regional Manager training civic leaders, LA staff and WDC chairpersons during the re- orientation of councillors in Easter Province (2023)
WHAT ARE THE VIEWS OF CITIZENS ON CDF ADMINISTRATION? Local Impact engaged GeoPoll to undertake a Citizen Perception Survey in Partner Provinces and included questions around the administration of CDF. In total 3,404 citizens were polled, that is, 1,416 from Central, 605 from Muchinga and 1,383 from Eastern. The findings are of importance to LAs and policy markers.
CDF Citizen Perception Survey (2023) Findings 1. Are you well informed on how and where to submit CDF project applications? 2. How well is the level of transparency in the manner CDF projects are approved?
CDF Citizen Perception Survey (2023) Findings Contd 1. What is the best way of addressing problems in the administration of CDF? 2. Whose interests and needs is CDF addressing?
