Decentralization in Social Sectors

1. Overview

- Donald Winkler (LCSHD)

2. Institutional Issues in Education and Community Empowerment

- Andrei Markov (ECSHD)

3. Social Protection in Africa - Laura Frigenti (AFTH4)

December 18, 2000

Decentralization in the Social Sectors

Move decision making to:Administrative units of the central government

that are closer to the customer.Lower levels of government.Service delivery institutions.Community groups.The customer/client.

Rationale: Decentralization in Social Sectors

Simply one element of government decentralization done for political or economic reasons.

Search for efficiency -- lower costs, improved accountability, increased supply.

Serve the client better -- greater voice, make services more demand driven, empower poor.

What have we learned?About…New role of central government social sector

ministries?Decentralization to subnational governments?Decentralization to service providers --

schools, hospitals, etc.?Empowering community groups -- social

investment funds?

Role of Central Government

Finance vs. provision.

Ensure provision of public goods.

Provide enabling environment.

Create demand/facilitate accountability.

Examples from Education in LAC

Top down reform: Argentina

Community involvement in principle:

Colombia

Empowering school councils: Minas Gerais

Empowering community groups: El Salvador

Empowering the parent: Chile

Conclusions

Central government role is critical to success.

Subnational governments may replicate the ills

of centralized provision.

Decentralization to community groups can lower

costs and increase supply.

Decentralization to service providers can raise

quality.

Institutional Issues in

African Education and

Community Empowerment.

Andrei R.Markov

African Education: Main Service Delivery Issues

• Under-financing

• Quality of inputs

• Demand constraints

• Operational failures

Examples of Operational Failures

• Waste of teachers time and teacher absenteeism

• “Ghost” teachers phenomena

• Persistence of user fees and levies in publicly financed education

• Spontaneous spread of community schools, in West Africa in particular

Institutional Setting ofPublic Provision

• Central bureaucracy (Ministry) responsible for service delivery

• Teachers are civil servants with primarily bureaucratic accountabilities

• Most of public funding is spent on salary costs

• Communities excluded from school management

Alternative Policies to Improve Institutional Setting

Community- based Schooling

Financing- communityManagement -community

level

Issues: quality, equity, sustainability

Community empowering within public provision

Financing - publicManagement - mix of

public and community

Issues: rent seeking at local level, implementation delays

Community Empowering within Public Provision

• Community participate in school

management

• Some public funds at community disposal

• Districts coordinate service delivery

• Support quality of education from central level (curriculum, national examinations, teacher training)

Bank Response - Operational Instruments

Community involvement in allocation of project funds - Mali, Madagascar, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia

Community Education Fund - Tanzania

SIF financing of education

Community Education Fund Concept

Direct allocation of CEF funds to schoolSchool board to take decision on spendingNon-salary items eligibleSchool development plansMatching grant principleIssues: a) community mobilization

b) targeting of weak communities c) sustainability

Link with Fiscal and Public Sector

Reform

• Budget envelope for education

• Fiscal and administrative decentralization framework

• Budget management capacities at district/provincial level

• Sensible budget management procedures

• Strengthen constituency advocating for educational decentralization

Social Protection in Africa.

Laura Frigenti (AFTH4)

Social Risk Management

Social protection consists of public interventions to assist individuals,

households and communities better manage income risks.

Social Protection Interventions Include:

- Labor Markets

- Pensions

- Safety Nets and Transfers

- Social Funds

- Child Protection

What do social funds finance?

Social Funds

Schools

Clinics

Water Supply

Sanitation

Local Roads

Drainage

School Feeding Programs

Nutrition Interventions

Training Programs

Counseling Programs

Microcredit

STRENGTHS

Participatory: Builds capacity andownership at community level

Feasible: Adapt to individual circumstance

Cost effective

Transparent and anti-bureaucratic

Rapid impact

SHORTCOMINGS

Sustainability

Integrating with rest of public sector - too little learning

Poor integration with policy framework

Accountability

OPPORTUNITIES

- Transfer participatory approach to local governments

- Adopt flexibility in operation

- Trade off between fast disbursement and quick impact and long-term objectives

EXAMPLESZIMBABWE - CAP

Implementation at local level done through district councils and authorities. Sub-projects approved as part of district development

plans. Pre-requisite is preparation of district participatory poverty

map. Expected end of program outcome: transferring to RDCs

the capacity of planning in a participatory way.

ExamplesZAMSIF - Community Driven Development in Practice

Zambia Social Investment Fund - Gradual and Progressive Involvement of Local Authorities in Local Development by:

Systematic Capacity Building Direct Implementation Responsibility Initially 2 Funding Windows: Community Investment Fund (CIF) and District Investment Fund (DIF)

Expected End-of-Program Outcome - Full Devolution of Local Development Activities.