Session Overview Introduction course structure Introduction participants Declarations and guidelines on (support to) DLG Decentralisation and aid effectivenss Paris Declaration Accra Agenda DPWG-LGD General and Specific Guiding Principles

Exercise: Brings & Takes Identify and write down in one sentence together with your name: Brings: One specific, valuable insight that they are bringing (green post-its) Takes: One challenge they are facing, which they would like to address during this course (yellow post-its) Connect the “Brings” and “Takes” with the various sessions of the course Assign one person to present the group

European Charter on Local Self Government Adopted by almost all Member States of the Council of Europe Recognises that local authorities are one of the main foundations of any democratic regime Recognises the right of citizens to participate in the conduct of public affairs

1996 – Habitat Agenda Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements: "Sustainable human settlements development can be achieved through the effective decentralisation of responsibilities, policy management, decision-making authority and sufficient resources, including revenue collection authority, to local authorities, closed to and most representatives of their constituencies" (paragraph 177) "Governments should examine and adopt, as appropriate, policies and legal frameworks from other States that are implementing decentralisation effectively" (paragraph 180)

adopted at the UN Habitat conference in Nairobi 2000 by UN and representatives of the world associations of cities and local authorities framework for the practice of local democracy, as a vital contribution to improving people’s living conditions in cities all over the world articles based on the European Charter for Local Self Government World Charter for Local Self Government

Kofi Annan “Local authorities are essential partners. While our goals are global (MDGs), they can most effectively be achieved through action at local level“

2007/ UN Habitat Guidelines 2007: International Guidelines on Decentralisation and Strengthening of Local Authorities, nine guidelines to promote good governance at all levels and to strengthen local authorities 2009: International Guidelines on Decentralisation and Access to Basic Services for all

European Charter The European Charter on Development Cooperation in Support of Local Governance aims to: Promote a national framework that fosters local democratic governance Strengthen democratic governance at the local level Promote social and economic development for the reduction of poverty and inequality Strengthen fiscal decentralisation and financing of local auhtorities.

Kampala call to Action This document, adopted at the Global Forum on Local Development promotes: The role of LG in national development policies to reach the MDGs Creation of conditions for LGs to develop their own policies and mobilise local resources Implementation of international principles on local democracy, good governance and decentralisation at all government levels.

DPWG-LGD (2006) The independent Donor Partner Working Group on Local Governance and Decentralisation was established to: enhance coordination and harmonisation of assistance in the area of decentralisation and local governance contribute to an improved understanding of different donor approaches build consensus around fundamental issues to be considered when supporting decentralisation and local governance processes.

Activities of DPWG-LGD Sharing experiences and good practices by: regular meetings and workshops preparation of studies to take stock of experiences preparation of guiding principles and guidelines capacity development

General guiding principles for enhancing alignment and harmonisation on LGD (2008) Aim: Foster exchange, dialogue and cooperation between actors with a view to promote harmonisation Encourage common understanding of key concepts Improve coherence, complementarity and effectiveness of initiatives in support of DLG

Main principles: Paris Declaration harmonisation ownership alignment managing for results mutual accountability

Twelve specific guiding principles for enhancing aid effectiveness that will apply to specific country contexts Steps to be taken in order to apply the principles in a more operational manner Based on the Accra Agenda for Action Include all stakeholders (also LG) Design country-based action plans for implementation

Ownership SGP 1: Act strategically to strengthen the national framework and key actors in fostering DLG SGP 2: Take the DLG contenxt as a starting point SGP 3: Strengthen domestic capacity development for planning, implementing and adjusting DLG reforms at all levels.

Alignment SGP 4: Design aligned response strategies according to the degree of ownership, commitment and political will to DLG SGP 5: Ensure synergies and consistency between support to the national decentralisation framework and sector support SGP 6: Strengthen fiscal decentralisation and local authorities financing

Harmonisation I SGP 7. Build on and strengthen nationally driven DLG policies with harmonised strategic responses from DPs to different degrees of and commitment to DLG SGP 8. Implement division of labour amongst DPs so that the mix of support programmes and aid modalities covers the key issues and actors in the countr specific DLG process

Harmonisation II SGP 9. Harmonise approaches to DLG capacity development in sector support programmes SGP 10. Adopt incentive systems in donor agencies that work in favour of harmonisation efforts

Managing for results SGP 11. Support the establishment and strengthening of domestic monitoring and evaluation systems of DLG reforms

Mutual accountability SGP 12. Build on and support DLG-reforms that strenghten accountability on both the supply and demand sides