COMMONWEALTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT FORUM CONFERENCE 11 – 15 MAY, GRAND BAHAMAS MEASURING LOCAL DEMOCERACY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE 11 – 15 MAY – 15 MAY 2009 Presentation by P.F Duri Secretary General Secretary

THE SMART PARTNERSHIP APPROACH An innovative mechanism for promoting cooperative governance based on the win-win prosper thy neighbour principle, Organised and structured dialogue Depoliticisation of the dialogue process Distinguishing civil from party politics

WHAT IS INTERNATIONAL PEER REVIEW? In its simplest form International Peer Review (IPR) is a process in which a local government peer from another country assesses a colleague from another against an agreed standard of behaviour and or performance. i. i.“Peer” signifies equality between the reviewed and the reviewer ii. ii.The concept excludes hierarchical types of assessments in which one party is subordinate to the other such as in audit, inspection iii. iii.Peer Review is not an inspection; it is a supportive process undertaken by ‘critical friends’ intended to help a council identify its strengths as well as what it needs to improve

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF AN IPR The specific objectives of an IPR may include: To assist the municipal council being reviewed to identify its weaknesses and strengths To assess the level of local democracy and good governance To learn from the process and improve performance To generate creativity and innovation to mitigate weaknesses To promote and create meeting platforms for dialogue and accommodate diversity To promote good practices To promote International Municipal Cooperation (MIC).

IPR TOOLKIT PROCESSESS STEP 1: Establishing indicators for a healthy local democracy STEP 2: Establishing the baseline using the Urban Governance Index STEP 3: Conducting the IPR STEP 4: Organisational learning and change

Urban Governance Index & Peer Reviews Peer review and Urban Governance Index are complementaryPeer review and Urban Governance Index are complementary The UGI is participatory and inclusive & it works through a workshop environment The UGI is participatory and inclusive & it works through a workshop environment The peer review process is a more subjective, managerial process involving a small team of local government practitioners.The peer review process is a more subjective, managerial process involving a small team of local government practitioners. A peer review is a process in which local government practitioners from one or more local governments are invited to review the operations of the other authority.A peer review is a process in which local government practitioners from one or more local governments are invited to review the operations of the other authority.

Local Democracy Framework and Urban Governance Index Participation- Participatory & Representative democracy Participation- Participatory & Representative democracy Effectiveness & efficiency- Local Government Per capita, Vision & Strategy, Service Delivery Surveys Effectiveness & efficiency- Local Government Per capita, Vision & Strategy, Service Delivery Surveys Equity- Gender Equality, Equitable Distribution of services,Citizen’s charter,Pro-poor pricing tariffs,Informal settlements,Informal sector policies Equity- Gender Equality, Equitable Distribution of services,Citizen’s charter,Pro-poor pricing tariffs,Informal settlements,Informal sector policies Accountability & Transparency- Financial systems, codes of conduct, Access to information Accountability & Transparency- Financial systems, codes of conduct, Access to information Social Security & Welfare- Policies on Crime control, HIV policies, Disabled and disaster management Social Security & Welfare- Policies on Crime control, HIV policies, Disabled and disaster management

Peer Reviews and Change Plans 5 Peer reviews have been held5 Peer reviews have been held UCAZ and LGA - UK Peer reviewUCAZ and LGA - UK Peer review National workshop to share experiences – attended by stakeholders and peer review partnersNational workshop to share experiences – attended by stakeholders and peer review partners 5 Stakeholder workshops to draw change plans have been held5 Stakeholder workshops to draw change plans have been held Some cities have started implementing their change plans.Some cities have started implementing their change plans.

ENHANCING CITY DIPLOMACY AND DECENTRALISED COOPERATION IN ZIMBABWE – –A tool for local governments and their associations for promoting social cohesion, conflict prevention, conflict resolution and post conflict reconstruction with the aim of creating a stable environment in which citizens can live together in peace and prosperity Engaging parliament to build broad support for local government National dialogue workshop Unity projects

Achievements to date Acceptance and institutionalisation of democratic principles and practices among members of UCAZAcceptance and institutionalisation of democratic principles and practices among members of UCAZ Unlocking and mobilisation of social capitalUnlocking and mobilisation of social capital Strengthened smart partnerships for enhanced service deliveryStrengthened smart partnerships for enhanced service delivery Depoliticisation of both the dialogues and service delivery issuesDepoliticisation of both the dialogues and service delivery issues Evidence based reportingEvidence based reporting Documentation of best practices in participatory budgetingDocumentation of best practices in participatory budgeting Development of the Local Democracy Framework.Development of the Local Democracy Framework. Strengthening Municipal International CooperationStrengthening Municipal International Cooperation Harnessing more resources from donorsHarnessing more resources from donors

NEXT STEPS Sharing experiences with other regional LGAs Sharing experiences with other regional LGAs Regional training of trainers workshopRegional training of trainers workshop Fundraising for cities change plans and replication of the project in the remaining 25 urban councilsFundraising for cities change plans and replication of the project in the remaining 25 urban councils