Newsletter – n°27 – October 2014
The world at a glance
Can empowering local and regional governments make a difference?Representatives of the Mashrek area and representatives of PLATFORMA participated in a multi-actor seminar where the process of decentralisation and the empowerment of local and regional governments (LRGs) were highlighted as decisive factors when dealing with fragile or crisis-stricken states.
Cités Unis France (CUF) explained that LRGs can play a crucial role in the mitigation of conflicts and civil tensions, for example by implementing crises response plans or managing migration flows arriving to their territory. Thus, a decentralisation process which takes into account a clear devolution of competencies to LRGs so that they are able to create and implement such plans is needed.
Furthermore, despite the many challenges facing LRGs in fragile states, the importance of securing a continuous provision of services and guaranteeing the performance of local institutions according to set strategic objectives, was recognized as key to legitimise these bodies in the eyes of the communities they are accountable to.
As participants reviewed the challenges and opportunities to support decentralisation in the region, SKL International stressed that decentralisation is a tool to empower local communities and through which LRGs can effectively assess priorities and create partnerships with the local private sector, thus reducing costs and maximising economic development.
A general agreement among participants of the session was that, a bottom-up approach to the decentralisation process is not enough as central governments should transfer not only responsibilities but also authority to LRGs.
The seminar was also the opportunity for UNDP Art, UN-HABITAT and the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments to organise the Consultation of Arab States on Localising the Sustainable development goals (SDGs). The participants highlighted thelimited role of local and regional governments in the Millennium Development Goals and recalled that the new development agenda will impact people’s lives only if implemented at the local level.
For a more complete coverage of the discussions held during these two days, including access to the documents and presentations, please visit the Storify of the Seminar.
The seminar, organised by PLATFORMA with the support of our partners CUF, SKL International, UCLG-MEWA and VNG International, took place the 24th and 25th of September in Amman, bringing together representatives from LRGs and civil society from Jordan, Egypt, Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine Territories and Syria, together with EU officials.
