African Local Governance Programme

African Local Governance Program (ALGP)

 

Timeframe: 2002 - 2007

Partners:
             ALAT - Association of Local Authorities of Tanzania
             AMM - Association of Municipalities of Mali
             ANAMM - National Association of Municipalities of Mozambique
             FCM - Federation of Canadian Municipalities
             MDP - Municipal Development Partnership (Eastern and Southern Africa)
             NALAG - National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana
             PDM - Partenariat pour le développement municipal
             UCLGA – United Cities and Local Governments – Africa

The African Local Governance Program was supported by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and it based on the frameworks developed under the Municipal Partnership Program.

Description:

The ALGP worked to support local governance and the decentralization process in Africa in four key areas:

•    national policy development on local governance and decentralization,
•    local municipal capacity to facilitate service delivery in such areas as water,
      sanitation and health,
•    public participation and access to government, and
•    the strengthening of African networks and institutions working on local
      governance so they are better able to serve the needs of their clients.

The program worked with the national government and national municipal associations in each country, and then in three or four municipalities. The models and pilots developed at the national and local levels in these countries will be shared with regional and Pan-African organizations to disseminate lessons learned more effectively.

The four countries involved in the program (Tanzania, Mali, Ghana and Mozambique) have taken steps towards decentralization and shown leadership in their regions. The program supports their leadership role and uses these countries as a base from which to implement regional activities aimed at strengthening decentralization and local service delivery across the respective region.

Outcomes:

The ALGP has achieved many results, including but not limited to:

-    supporting the creation of the local government association in Mozambique;
-    supporting the emergence of the continental local government association
     UCLGA;
-    implementing an inter-regional project on building competencies in local
      governments to localize the MDGs;
-    mainstreaming gender, HIV and AIDS and community participation;
-    setting up women's caucuses in local government associations;
-    launching an African Women in Local Governance Network;
-    developing knowledge and enhancing skills of Canadian and African
     municipal officials;
-    establishing municipal partnerships on a variety of issues such as revenue
     generation, local economic development, youth leadership, community
     participation in municipal planning; and
-    publishing toolkits and manuals on a diverse range of subjects, including
     strategic planning for local authorities and a manual on roles and
     responsibilities of municipal officials.

Achieving these results has led to an increase in knowledge on decentralization, better understanding of the importance of local government, increased visibility of local government associations and greater participation by the citizen in local governance.