NAMIBIA

1. NAMIBIA DISCUSSION PAPER ON DECENTRALIZATION PROCESS IDASA SEMINAR, PRETORIA Cllr. P.Nganate V.P. ALAN & Mr. S.Tjaronda: Chairman NANGOF 26-28 OCT 2004

2. OVERVIEW COUNTRY BACKGROUND LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK RATIONALE ACHIEVEMENTS CHALLENGES CONCLUSION

3. COUNTRY BACKGROUND Infant democracy; 1990: Multipartism Sys Population; 1.8 (70 percent rural residents; prevalence of abject poverty and HIV/AIDS are high Unemployment app 40 % Illiteracy rate 45% and Life Exp 47 Political Structure: NA/NC/RC/LA/HOC MRLGH (LA); NANGOF 100 NGOs & CBOs; ALAN 51 local authorities

4. Decentralization process Legal framework established GRN adopted decentralization as a state policy in 1997. Further reinforcement created to create institutional structure for implementation through: RC. Act 92; LA.Act 92; DE.Act 2000; Trust Fund for Regional Development & Equity Provision Act 2000

5. Rationale for Decentralization To ensure functionally autonomous, democratic and authoritative local government ultimately devolving power from central GRN to sub-national levels To promote participatory democracy To promote equal economic, cultural and socio-economic development and improved public service provision

6. ACHIEVEMENTS Process is slow partly due to the fact that the wolf has become the shepherd… insecurity, fear of loss of control; loss of power… DIP (Decentralization Implementation Plan Cross Ministerial Taskforces on decentralization Manual on secondment of staff to RC and L Authorities

7. ACHIEVEMENTS CONT... Budgeting guidelines for delegated functions to regional councils Report on rationalization and harmonization of sectoral laws to conform with decentralization Guidelines and development planning Local GRN reform process Recruitment of RC Personnel

8. CONT... L. MAP ACTIVATION of Civil society through ALAN and NANGOF adds value toward expediting the process Education sector; Agriculture CBWM-WPC; Constituency Offices; (issue birth certificates) Testing of vehicles and issuing licensing done by LA;; Health: CBC Natural Resource Management: CBNRM & CBT

9. CHALLENGES PACE Lack of basic capacity Social and economic disparities compounded by the rampant ICT advancement/ distort allocation of resources Unsustainable political transitions November 2004 Corruption/Institutionalized integrity syst..

10. CONT... WOLF IN A SHEEP SKIN SCENARIO? Top-down-Approach is conducive to achieve bottom-up governance? Lead agency… debate continue to simmer on whether the MRLGH has sufficient political muscles to see process through… [ [PM’O ] RESOURCE to ensure CSO are act.involvd

11. CONCLUSION In conclusion, as Namibia continue along this path to reach the citizens, rate-payers, tax-payers with the services they so much deserve, the onus rest in empowering the very citizens to ensure they drive the process. ALAN and NANGOF finds a comparative advantage in creating that social movement Applaud the GRN for the legal environment

12. CONCLUSION Our participation to this important timely seminar is geared toward sharing those lessons learnt, best practices to ultimately assist in formulating a strategic action plan for the participation of civil society Use the wealth of experience to consolidate sustainable interventions that comply with country vision: NDPII; V2030;MDGs; WARM GREETINGS FROM NAMIBIA