1. Regional Seminar with Local Authorities from the ENP South
SESSION 1 Introducing the seminar and starting the debate “The Context in which participants work”
Zakaria AMAR,
Expert
Regional Seminar with Local Authorities from the ENP South
Tunis, November 2012

2. Seminar Objectives
Share information of the realities and contexts faced by LAs in the Region
Enhance the multi-stakeholder dialogue within the new political context;
Provide an opportunity for consultation on the the upcoming Commission Communication on LAs in Development;
Improve and consolidate the quality of the EU support to LAs particularly in the context of the EU response to the Arab Spring;

3. Seminar Methodology 3 day seminar The logic of the seminar Day 1 Day 2
Understanding LAs contexts and dynamics
Evolution of EU policies + Consultation on EC Communication
Towards a more strategic engagement
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

4. Brief Overview – International Development Policy Context
Clear shift from government ownership, to country and democratic ownership; from mutual accountability to domestic accountability
Local Authorities are increasingly recognised as actors in their own right
Busan: “… local governments play critical roles in linking citizens with government, and in ensuring broad- based and democratic ownership of countries' development agendas”
With the Agenda for Change, the EU promotes LAs integration in domestic policy processes by creating space and empowering LAs Associations

5. Some characteristics of LAs in the region
In general relatively centralised government structures, limited AUTONOMY for local authorities to be a “catalyst” of local development and improved governance
Slow progress of decentralisation reforms – partly due to central authorities fear of loss of control and power
At the country level, decentralisation efforts vary significantly between countries but in general there is:
Some deconcentration – Provision of public services, including health and education, under strict guidance of the central government
Not much decentralisation – Municipal Authorities are often only responsible for limited functions (street paving and maintenance, construction of local roads, street lighting, garbage collection, library and park services, and issuing permits for constructions)

6. Key Challenges faced by actors in the region
In general, central governments in the region retain substantial powers to intervene in local affairs
Lack of democratic elections at the local level – LAs are partly elected, partly appointed
Weak local technical, management and coordination capacity is an impediment for efficient service delivery.
Unsustainable levels of poverty and inequality which ultimately led to revolutions in the region are still present and could fuel further unrest if not dealt with

7. Key Challenges faced by actors in the region (continued)
There is a rise in civil society activism and motivation for locally defined goals and solutions – Timid attempts to establish local development coalitions of actors
Recent changes of government have not always lead to a change of regime
Slow pace of governance reforms and lack of economic policy are hampering growth.
Growing demand for “Local governance” but unclear what it entails and how to get it
Local governance demands more than just the enactment of new legislation; it requires a fundamental policy shift.

8. Opportunities and entry points
Local Economic Development
Fiscal decentralisation
A range of democratic reforms are now being demanded overtly by populations from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds
Supporting Local Authorities in the region as autonomous and empowered could focus on the following priorities:
Promote the values of transparency and accountability in the public debate
Foster the demand-side for decentralisation reforms
Use Local Economic Development as tool to achieve pro-poor economic growth
Fiscal decentralisation to provide the Local Authorities with sufficient autonomy to provide service delivery at the local level

9. Positive interactions: a few examples
The Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) provides a platform to enhance the sub-national contribution to the Euro-Mediterranean partnership;
The EU funded CIUDAD programme aims to help local governments in the ENP region address urban development problems in a sustainable manner
In Morocco, a “new regionalisation process” should give a new and significant role to local and regional authorities

10. Concluding remarks
The progress in the role of LAs as governance and development actors within the region has been very slow
Reforms have often focused on organizational changes while keeping control and autonomy with the central government
Citizen’s demands for more democracy, accountability and transparency, strengthened with the “Arab Spring”, have clearly redefined the governance dynamics of the ENP South region
This creates NEW WINDOWS of OPPORTUNITY at local AND national that should be optimally exploited
The international development policy context is calling for increased participation of sub-national institutions and stakeholders within development processes

11. Context as a necessary starting point
Next session
Context as a necessary starting point
Now we will move into 3 working groups around 2 questions:
Question 1: What are the main windows of opportunities and dynamics you see in your country to achieve key development and governance outcomes at the local level? Please provide concrete examples where possible?
Question 2: What is the space available in your context for autonomous action of local authorities as catalyst of local developments?

12. شكرا THANKS MERCI