Local Government Reform and decentralisation in The Gambia Putting the legislative framework and institutional processes into motio (Cont’d)

2.8.3  Decentralisation secretariat

The department of state for local government, lands and religious affairs is the principal agency for local government planning and development in the Gambia and it is responsible for the inspection, monitoring and coordination of local government authorities: In response to the demands of this responsibility, the department had sponsored a number of consultancy studies in the past few years assessing its own capacity and the capacities of councils.

Key among the issues and concerns highlighted in all these studies is the lack of adequate capacity and resources for the department to lead the process satisfactorily. The main issues in this function include the onerous tasks of strengthening the role of central government in the coordination, monitoring, and supervision of local government authorities including governors, chiefs and alkalos, exercising better central government control and direction for wider citizen participation and civil society engagement in the process of poverty alleviation and local development, the mobilization of local, national and international financial, technical and human resources for the effective and efficient conduct of local government in the Gambia, liaise with government and other stakeholders on behalf of the local government sector towards the fulfilment of government’s efforts in strengthening the role of decentralization in service delivery, poverty alleviation and local development.

The decentralization of local government is highly desired as part of the public governance framework of any democratic country. Effective and well managed decentralized local government systems have contributed directly in the economic progress of countries in Europe and America as well as in some Asian and African countries.

In many of these countries where it has succeeded local governments are the principal vehicles for the eradication or alleviation of wide spread poverty and for the enhancement of overall local economic development. Most of these countries have dedicated national institutions such as decentralization secretariats, agencies or commissions. Some of them even have ministries of decentralization, to guide and facilitate the growth and development of their local governance systems.  

In the Gambia decentralisation is managed through the main stream civil service structure. Decentralisation touches all sections and sectors of society and its success over the long term require the mobilisation and full participation of the whole range of actors and stakeholders in the process. The structure, policies and procedures of the civil service are different from those of non-state actors and it may be inconvenient for the effective involvement and engagement of civil society, NGO and private sector organisations in the implementation process of such a large scale reform agenda.

Decentralisation management at the national level calls for inclusive, flexible, and innovative programme development on a continual basis. In the public expenditure review conducted in 2004 it was evident that local government and decentralization initiatives were relatively under-funded and the situation has not changed up to now.

Except for international donor organisations, there is hardly any visible and coordinated response on the part of other actors in the financing and development of decentralisation and local government reform programs. Public investment in local infrastructure and capacity building is a cross cutting responsibility and should not be seen only as a central government duty, although it is the duty of government to provide the needed policy support and public institutional infrastructure for the coordination of efforts.  

"Cinderella" of the department of state.

To strengthen central government control and direction in the mobilisation of greater and wider public and private sector support and commitment to the growth of decentralisation and a developmental local government framework for The Gambia, it may be a recommendable idea for government to establish a decentralisation secretariat.

This was indeed recommended by Dr Michael "O" Leary a renowned international development consultant who was hired in 2006 to appraise the proposed assistance to local government under EDF 9. After a comprehensive review and assessment of the local government sector in general, Dr. "O" Leary observed in his report that with the poor status, limited mandate and resources available to the directorate of local governance, the implementation unit for local government reform in the department of state for local government, lands and religious affairs, the department was not yet fit for the purpose of leading effective decentralisation.

He actually called the directorate the "Cinderella" of the department of state. Similarly the late Tamsir Mbaye (consultant) former secretary general, permanent secretary and divisional commissioner also recommended for a decentralisation secretariat in a report he submitted in 2007.

The secretariat should be established on the same principles as other agencies which have been established by government for the purpose of mobilising wider public participation and process ownership and it should be administered by a board of directors with membership drawn from central and local government institutions, civil society NGOs and private sector organisations.

It should have an appropriate organizational structure and charged with the responsibility for guiding and implementing government policy on decentralisation. The secretariat will strengthen the role of the department of state for local government, lands and religious affairs in local government development, help to build capacities in councils and the local government system in general and mobilise national and international resources in the provision of economic infrastructure and social services in the local communities in the continued fight against poverty. In effect it will enhance the comparative advantage of local government in the revitalization of local economies and the maintenance of the rule of law in the local areas.  

Kemo Conteh is the former director of local governance, Department of state for local government, lands and religious affairs now he is the Senior Partner, Governance Development and Management Services (GDMS) A consultancy firm at 9 Mamadi Manyang Highway, Kanifing Industrial Estate :    Tel 4393393