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2014 Pacific Local Government Research Roundtable Part of: 2014 PLGF &CLGFPort Moresby

DECENTRALIZATION

Implementing the OL:

–Policy Shifts &Impacts on Service Delivery Frontiers

By Sir Paul SongoSpecial Task Team –ROL-PG&LLG 19th May 2014

CONTENT

Background Key Points Aims of the Organic Law Elected & Appointed Representatives Policy Issues Decentralization Key Service Delivery Challenges Planning Service Improvement Program Defined Roles and Responsibilities Performances & Management Issues Management Final Remark

KEY POINTS OF THE PRESENTATION

Aims of the Organic Law are Noble Very Elaborate Government Structure Decentralization is a must for PNG Decentralization has worked in two forms in

PNG Key Service Delivery Challenges System of Bottom –Up Planning Implementation –Service Delivery Program Who should do what in delivering services? Performance & Management Issues

BACKGROUND

BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AS:

Between 1997 -2002 Former President of POMOTU-NDREHET /KURTI –ANDRA

Rural Local –Level Government (Mid North Coast Manus Province) and

Former Member of the JDP&BPC Former Member of Manus Provincial Assembly Former Member of the Manus Provincial Executive Council ,

and

Between 2003 -2010 Program Manager for the Capacity –Building and

Institutional Strengthening Program (CBISP) for Local Government Leaders and their Officers -PNG

AIMS OF THE PRESENT REFORM

Improve Delivery of Service Decentralizing Powers and Responsibilities; Place more Public Servants to Districts and Local

Government Administration; Communities plan their needs under the Planning

System; Funds follow Functions; Reduce Mismanagement &Misuse of Public Funds; Bring Decision –Making closer to the People; Improve Monitoring and Reporting

ELECTED & APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVES

The Organic Law created 38, 836 leadership position:

22 Governors, Chairpersons –PEC &Chairpersons-JPP&BPC;

89 Chairpersons of JDP&BPC; 319 Presidents & Chairpersons of LLG Assemblies 6,186 Ward Councillors; 30, 930 Associate Members of WDC; 980 Appointed Representatives.

POLICY ISSUES

DECENTRALIZATION must remain the cornerstone of any future government system in PNG

Finding the Best Political System; Fair Representation through the Ballot Boxes and

not by Appointments; Power –Sharing between levels of governments; Participation in Decision –Making; High Performance Public Sector Accountability and Transparency.

DECENTRALIZATION

WORKED IN TWO FORMS IN PNG 1976 Organic Law on Provincial Government 1995 Organic Law on Provincial Governments and

Local –level Governments

The former allowed greater autonomy over political, administrative and financial between national government and provinces.

The later, very centralized policy, administration and financial control based with the national government, has elected and appointed representatives.

KEY SERVICE DELIVERY CHALLENGES

Attitudes Capacity of the Public Sector Lack of Operations Funding Deterioration of existing Infrastructure and facilities Access Absence of a Sustainable ‘Enabling Environment’ &

‘Service Delivery Centre’ at District level High Administration costing Incentives for Rural Workers No One –Size fits All

PLANNING

System of Bottom –Up Planning

Ward Plan should identify Needs LLG Plan set Priorities of Projects District Plan should determines Development Program

Strategies, Programs and Funding Provincial Integrated Development Plan insures bottom

up planning meet top down policies and resources required (Integrated Planning)

National Sector Plans provide Policy Directions and set Targets

National Plan articulates the National Vision & Development Policy Directives

Note: Our Experience: Plans cascade upwards BUT funding does not cascade downwards according to approved Plans (programs and projects) priorities.

IMPLEMENTATION: SERVICE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS

District Service Improvement Program (DISP) by Open Member Provincial Service Improvement Program (PSIP) by Provincial

Member

Key Points Funding follow Political and other specific Interests Real Community Needs ignored Approved Plans Programs &Projects ignored Recurrent costing not considered Ownership issue Sustainability is a problem Lack of effective coordination, alignment and integration

between Programs

Note: Public Funds being channelled through too many sources.

SERVICE DELIVERY AGENCIES

National Government Provincial Government District Administration & LLG District Becoming Service Centre Ward Management Donors Churches Non –State Actors Private Sector Community

Key Point: There is duplication of roles among all Agencies Parallel Programs is a waste of limited resources Confusing Procurement Processes exist Counter –part funding is a problem for many rural LLGs

Note> Clearly defined roles will minimize duplication and confusion

PERFORMANCES ISSUES

There are Critical Issues requiring attention especially at the Sub –National level in our administration at the Provincial, District, and Local Government levels Administration;

At the Functional level there is also service delivery challenges in Health; Education; Agriculture Extension Services; Transportation; Village Courts and the Informal Sector Activities in the villages.

MANAGEMENT ISSUES

Policy level -Defining what constitutes ‘Core Basic Services in

the communities?

Operational level -Capacity/Weak Linkages/ Relationship//Staff Incentives/Leadership

LLG/Ward Level -No proper Up-to -Date Data maintained at community level - Too much Hand -Out Mentality and not enough Helping -Out

Other Cross –cutting Issues eg. HIV AIDS, Gender Equality etc.

MESSAGE

In the heist for ’Improving Service Delivery’, we are experiencing a number of trends: Funds no longer follow Functions and in line

with approved Plans; Funds follow politically or specific interests Politicians are replacing Public Servants in

delivering services Self -Reliance is being eroded and replaced

with the Hand –Out mentality Sustainability of Projects and infrastructure

at community level not guaranteed.

EM TASOL

Thank you!!!