UNITED CITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OF AFRICA (UCLGA)

Advocacy and Lobbying (AL) for Local Government

 Purpose 

Although various local governments in Africa have experimented with participatory methods of governance, this has largely been ad hoc and not systematized. As a consequence, the participatory option has been used parasitically as and when local governments consider it useful for their own ends. This project attempts to mainstream and institutionalize participatory practices in the local governments system. The project studies participatory practices and tests their applicability in a normal operating environment of a local government institution. The opportunities for building social capital through this project are substantial. Communities that understand and participate in their governance system are more likely to be responsible citizens who demand accountability from their governing institutions. Local democracy refers to a viable political and development process that allows for the sharing of ideas, resources and decisions for good governance. Local democracy is thus viewed as a prerequisite for good governance. Evidence of local democracy includes the presents of an active civil society, enabling legislation, a fair local electoral system, free access to information and an administrative structure that facilitates this process (UNHabitat, 2002).

However, it has been observed that besides the rhetoric around the process of decentralization, many African political systems show little record of success in promoting local democracy. In most societies the needs of the rich and influential in society tend to be well reflected in policy goals while those for the poor and the marginalized struggle to get their voices heard. This is in total contrast of the idea of local democracy in general and decentralization in particular which should accommodate the interest of the majority and the minority, the poor and the rich, the privileged and the disadvantaged.

The following will be undertaken under the project:

1. Develop systems for public participation in local governance that engender a sense of belonging and citizenry among community members and promote good local governance
2. Raise awareness and run information and education campaigns on inclusiveness and social cohesion, and ensure that member municipalities have specific programmes of organised interaction and partnership with their communities.
3. Mobilise resources for participatory local governance and budgeting training for member municipalities.
4. Organise public campaigns and support civil society actions to promote participatory local governance and budgeting.
5. Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Municipal Development Programme – East and Southern Africa (MDP-ESA) to jointly develop and raise the necessary funding for participatory local governance and budgeting and other projects aimed at promoting good governance and development at the local level.