A Users' Guide to Measuring Local Governance
A Users' Guide to Measuring Local Governance
A Users' Guide to Measuring Local Governance
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for union parishads (UPs) comprise a range of<br />
governance indica<strong>to</strong>rs, as shown in Table 1.<br />
However, more commonly MCAs can be matched<br />
with performance measurements (PMs) as a twin<br />
element in tying funding <strong>to</strong> performance. Rather<br />
than determining absolute access, PMs determine<br />
supplements <strong>to</strong> (or subtractions from) the basic<br />
allocation amount, based on more qualitative<br />
measures of past performance. UNCDF experience<br />
has shown that the use of PMs can provide a<br />
powerful incentive for building LG capacity and<br />
improving LG performance. A good example is<br />
Uganda, where a transparent formula, based on<br />
eight performance measurement themes (such as<br />
“Communication and Accountability Performance”,<br />
“Gender Mainstreaming Performance”, “Procurement<br />
Performance”, etc.) comprising 24 indica<strong>to</strong>rs was<br />
used <strong>to</strong> allocate central government grants <strong>to</strong> local<br />
governments. Performance on each set of<br />
indica<strong>to</strong>rs is scored and used <strong>to</strong> determine<br />
whether the local government is eligible for<br />
a 20% <strong>to</strong>p-up, a 20% reduction, or simply the basic<br />
allocation derived from the formula (see page 124<br />
of the Source <strong>Guide</strong>).<br />
The measurement of governance performance<br />
also helps <strong>to</strong> identify deficiencies in the internal<br />
management of local government. Such measures<br />
provide a practical means <strong>to</strong> identify those local<br />
governments in need of special assistance in<br />
capacity building. In many countries central<br />
government support for capacity-building in local<br />
governance is limited by shortage of financial and<br />
human resources. Such measures enable training<br />
bodies <strong>to</strong> allocate these limited resources in a<br />
more efficient manner by concentrating efforts on<br />
the poorer performing local governments. Such<br />
assessments also provide evidence <strong>to</strong> identify<br />
those high-performing local governments, which<br />
may play a supportive role in ‘knowledge<br />
transfer’ and technical assistance <strong>to</strong> their weaker<br />
counterparts.<br />
1.13 Institutional opportunities for policy<br />
uptake<br />
Irrespective of the particular area for which the<br />
results of an assessment may be used, reformers<br />
face a major challenge <strong>to</strong> ensure that policy uptake<br />
actually occurs and that it is sustained. They must<br />
ensure that the political space is secured for these<br />
new policy initiatives, that they are not seen as<br />
threatening <strong>to</strong> powerful stakeholders, so that they<br />
can be endorsed. UN-HABITAT 22 has identified a<br />
range of institutional mechanisms that strengthen<br />
local governance by promoting transparency and<br />
accountability. Some of these provide convenient<br />
‘entry points’ by which the assessment results of<br />
local governance performance can be fed in<strong>to</strong> the<br />
policy-making arena. These include:<br />
Public meetings and public hearings: In some<br />
countries, especially in Latin America, the local<br />
government executive head is required by law <strong>to</strong><br />
convene open public meetings as a mechanism <strong>to</strong><br />
improve downward accountability. Regular public<br />
meetings tend <strong>to</strong> focus on budgetary concerns<br />
while public hearings may be convened <strong>to</strong> debate<br />
issues for which controversy exists, such as new<br />
municipal investment projects. As well as<br />
Table 1:<br />
Minimum Conditions of Access (MCA) in Bangladesh<br />
Minimum Conditions of Access<br />
Indica<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
Transparency, Accountability & Fulfilment of Basic Functions • UP meetings held in UP offices (not chairperson’s house!)<br />
• Past FY accounts inspected and approved<br />
• Minimum effort at local tax collection<br />
Involvement of Elected Women Members • Women members invited <strong>to</strong> UP meetings and involved in<br />
UP committees – LG circular<br />
Project-Specific Conditions • Establishment of ward & union development committees <strong>to</strong><br />
widen public input in<strong>to</strong> UP planning, budgeting and moni<strong>to</strong>ring<br />
Source: Shot<strong>to</strong>n (2005) Delivering the goods: Building local government capacity <strong>to</strong> achieve the Millennium Development Goals.<br />
A practitioner’s guide from UNCDF experience in least developed countries.<br />
22 UNDP Oslo <strong>Governance</strong> Centre