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African Ministers to focus on
local governance
Accra, May 23, Ghanadot/GNA - A United Nations meeting in
Yaoundé, Cameroon, from May 28-30 will consider how
strengthening local governance capacities in Africa can
improve service delivery and help achieve the Millennium
Development Goals on the continent.
The theme of the Conference is: “From Policy to
Implementation: Challenges and Strategies for Effective
Implementation of Decentralized Governance in Africa”,
according to a statement issued in Accra on Friday by the
United Nations.
The statement said the meeting would be attended by
Ministers and senior officials responsible for local
government and decentralization, as well as heads of local
authorities.
It said some 150 participants from 35 African countries
would share experiences on the role of leadership in Africa
in implementing decentralization policies. They will discuss
development and poverty reduction at local level, and the
need to build capacity for decentralized governance.
The need for “good governance at all levels” is required “to
ensure that resources are mobilized and used effectively.
Participation, transparency and accountability are all
crucial components of this process. Countries themselves
must be in the driver's seat when governance reforms are
involved,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Participants will also include representatives of
development agencies
and partners involved in decentralization and local
governance as well as representatives of European
municipalities participating in the Euro-Africa Partnership
for Decentralized Governance.
The statement said the conference would feature a special
debate on the results of a seminar for elected women local
government leaders on poverty reduction.
The seminar on “Strengthening Women’s Leadership in Local
Government for Effective Decentralized Governance and
Poverty Reduction in Africa: Roles, Challenges and
Strategies” would be held also in Yaoundé on 26-27 May.
The statement noted that decentralization policies and
devolution of power and authority to local administrations
were increasingly being implemented in Africa as part of
efforts supported by aid agencies to achieve good
governance.
Yet, “it is not sufficient to put in place policies, laws,
and strategies emphasizing decentralization.” said Guido
Bertucci, Director of the Division for Public Administration
and Development Management at the United Nations.
“These policies and strategies must be effectively
implemented to make a difference in the well-being of local
communities, especially in terms of service delivery and
development”.
The Conference is organized by the UN Department of Economic
and Social Affairs in cooperation with the Ministry of
Territorial Administration and Decentralization of the
Government of Cameroon, the UN Capital Development Fund, the
UN Development Programme, and the Municipal Development
Partnership.
GNA
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