A Users' Guide to Measuring Local Governance

Two examples of indicators developed for the Anosy Region in Madagascar
Indicator Explanation Value Year Source Observations References
1.1.1
Existence of vision
Does the Anosy region have a
strategic plan? Value between 0
and 10, 0=strategic plan non
existent, 5=strategic plan
on-going, 10=strategic plan
finalized
10 Feb. 2006 Pact FTU/SDR Anosy region has a
Development Regional
Planning (PRD)which has
been ratified in January
2005
Report Anosy PRD available
in hard copy and in CD
Rom
1.4.1
Satisfaction
towards quality
services
What percentage of the
population is satisfied with the
quality of services delivered in the
Anosy region? 0=nobody is
satisfied, 50=half of the persons
inquired are satisfied, 100=all
persons inquired are satisfied
70 Feb. 2006 Report/
Region
Survey’s results
(representative sample)
Key actors/stakeholders
A lead organisation is identified in the initial stages
of the process. This organisation plays a vital role
throughout the process, particularly in informing
and involving various actors, and in processing the
data. Other stakeholders involved in this process
include:
• The ‘client’ (e.g. the local government), also the
chief beneficiary.The client defines the model’s
objectives, its application and the selection of
stakeholders to be involved.
• The ‘technical partners’, local actors working in
close collaboration with the lead organization.
Their role is critical, particularly in information
collection, processing, and validation of results.
• The actual stakeholders in the governance
process like local government officials, civil
society, the private sector and community or
traditional leaders, who are involved in the
actual assessment process.
On the basis of the LGB results, local actors identify
gaps in governance and define priorities resulting
in an action plan and actual capacity building
activities.
Results reporting format
The quantitative and qualitative data elicited are
analysed to produce:
1 A Local Governance Index (LGI), which broadly
indicates the quality of local governance, and is
expressed on a scale from –1 to +1 (see Table
5).The LGI is generated using a software-based
methodology which allows local organizations
and local authorities to do the data processing
themselves. Box 1 shows an example of Local
Governance Index in Madagascar.
2. Other outputs (reports) which show the
strengths and weaknesses of a specific
governance situation and which can be
represented by the same value scale.
The results are presented to stakeholders and
analysed in a participatory forum. An action plan is
then developed.
Coverage
The field test was undertaken from April to June
2006 in 15 locations across six countries
(Botswana, South Africa, Cameroon, Ecuador,
Ghana, Madagascar and Tanzania). The great range
of applicability of the LGB is seen in its piloting in
municipalities, districts, and regions. Twenty
more applications – including also thematic
applications, such as water, education, disaster risk
reduction, etc. – have in the mean time been
implemented in the above countries as well as in
Ethiopia, Mozambique, Malawi, Lesotho and South
East Asia.
Timeline
Initiated in 2005. Field tested in 2006. Revised in
2007 and now applied in more than 10 countries in
Africa. Depending on the number of district or
municipalities involved, the existence of reliable
data, the buy in from local dignitaries and the local
capacity to collect and analyse data the LGB can be
completed within 3-5 weeks per municipality.
62 UNDP Oslo Governance Centre