Decentralization in Social Sectors 1. Overview - Donald Winkler (LCSHD) 2. Institutional Issues in Education and Community Empowerment - Andrei Markov (ECSHD) 3. Social Protection in Africa - Laura Frigenti (AFTH4) December 18, 2000

Decentralization in the Social Sectors Move decision making to: §Administrative units of the central government that are closer to the customer. §Lower levels of government. §Service delivery institutions. §Community groups. §The customer/client.

Rationale: Decentralization in Social Sectors §Simply one element of government decentralization done for political or economic reasons. §Search for efficiency -- lower costs, improved accountability, increased supply. §Serve the client better -- greater voice, make services more demand driven, empower poor.

What have we learned? About… §New role of central government social sector ministries? §Decentralization to subnational governments? §Decentralization to service providers -- schools, hospitals, etc.? §Empowering community groups -- social investment funds?

Role of Central Government §Finance vs. provision. §Ensure provision of public goods. §Provide enabling environment. §Create demand/facilitate accountability.

Examples from Education in LAC §Top down reform: Argentina §Community involvement in principle: Colombia §Empowering school councils: Minas Gerais §Empowering community groups: El Salvador §Empowering the parent: Chile

Conclusions §Central government role is critical to success. §Subnational governments may replicate the ills of centralized provision. §Decentralization to community groups can lower costs and increase supply. §Decentralization to service providers can raise quality.

Institutional Issues in African Education and Community Empowerment. Andrei R.Markov

African Education: Main Service Delivery Issues Under-financing Quality of inputs Demand constraints Operational failures

Examples of Operational Failures Waste of teachers time and teacher absenteeism “Ghost” teachers phenomena Persistence of user fees and levies in publicly financed education Spontaneous spread of community schools, in West Africa in particular

Institutional Setting of Public Provision Central bureaucracy (Ministry) responsible for service delivery Teachers are civil servants with primarily bureaucratic accountabilities Most of public funding is spent on salary costs Communities excluded from school management

Alternative Policies to Improve Institutional Setting §Community- based Schooling §Financing- community §Management - community level §Issues: quality, equity, sustainability §Community empowering within public provision §Financing - public §Management - mix of public and community §Issues: rent seeking at local level, implementation delays

Community Empowering within Public Provision Community participate in school management Some public funds at community disposal Districts coordinate service delivery Support quality of education from central level (curriculum, national examinations, teacher training)

Bank Response - Operational Instruments §Community involvement in allocation of project funds - Mali, Madagascar, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia §Community Education Fund - Tanzania §SIF financing of education

Community Education Fund Concept §Direct allocation of CEF funds to school §School board to take decision on spending §Non-salary items eligible §School development plans §Matching grant principle §Issues: a) community mobilization b) targeting of weak communities c) sustainability

Link with Fiscal and Public Sector Reform Budget envelope for education Fiscal and administrative decentralization framework Budget management capacities at district/provincial level Sensible budget management procedures Strengthen constituency advocating for educational decentralization

Social Protection in Africa. Laura Frigenti (AFTH4)

Social Risk Management Social protection consists of public interventions to assist individuals, households and communities better manage income risks.

Social Protection Interventions Include: -Labor Markets -Pensions -Safety Nets and Transfers -Social Funds -Child Protection

What do social funds finance? Social Funds Schools Clinics Water Supply Sanitation Local Roads Drainage School Feeding Programs Nutrition Interventions Training Programs Counseling Programs Microcredit

STRENGTHS Participatory: Builds capacity and ownership at community level Feasible: Adapt to individual circumstance Cost effective Transparent and anti-bureaucratic Rapid impact

SHORTCOMINGS Sustainability Integrating with rest of public sector - too little learning Poor integration with policy framework Accountability

OPPORTUNITIES - Transfer participatory approach to local governments - Adopt flexibility in operation - Trade off between fast disbursement and quick impact and long-term objectives

EXAMPLES ZIMBABWE - CAP  Implementation at local level done through district councils and authorities.  Sub-projects approved as part of district development plans.  Pre-requisite is preparation of district participatory poverty map.  Expected end of program outcome: transferring to RDCs the capacity of planning in a participatory way.

Examples ZAMSIF - Community Driven Development in Practice u Zambia Social Investment Fund - Gradual and Progressive Involvement of Local Authorities in Local Development by: u Systematic Capacity Building u Direct Implementation Responsibility u Initially 2 Funding Windows: Community Investment Fund (CIF) and District Investment Fund (DIF) u Expected End-of-Program Outcome - Full Devolution of Local Development Activities.