1. Africa Local Government Action Forum (ALGAF) Experiences of MDP-ESA
Presentation at
The FALGAF Session
14 May 2009
by Phillip Kundishora

2. The Mission of ALGAF The mission of ALGAF is to:
Provide a platform for structured dialogue and sharing of knowledge and information on key issues that impact on the performance of local governments.
Contribute towards strengthening the role of local government in service delivery, poverty reduction and local economic development.
Contribute towards transforming and modernizing local governments as engines of local development.

3. Partners World Bank Institute (WBI) ANSA Africa
United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA)
Ethiopia Civil Service College (ECSC)
Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA)
Kenya Global Distance Learning Centre
Madagascar Global Distance Learning Centre
Rwandese Association of Local Authorities
Tanzania Global Distance Learning Centre
Uganda global Distance learning Centre
Municipal Development Partnership Eastern and southern Africa (MDP-ESA)

4. Every 1st Friday of each month.
Delivery Strategy
Delivered:
Through videoconferencing provided by the Global Distance Learning Network (GDLN) in nine countries namely, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe
Every 1st Friday of each month.
Through presentations and facilitation by local government practitioners

5. Audience Amongst others:
Local government officials (elected and appointed)
Central government ministry officials
Representatives of traditional leaders
Managers of community development initiatives
Religious leaders
The private sector
Academics, Trainers and Researchers
Media practitioners
Development partners

6. Management of ALGAF
ALGAF is managed by the Harare-based Municipal Development Partnership for Eastern and Southern Africa (MDP-ESA), with financial support from the World Bank.

7. Roles of Country coordinators
Invite and convene participants;
Facilitate monthly videoconferences
Distribute background documents;
Monitor and certify attendance;
Follow up on requests from participants for more information;
Prepare reports with Q&A after the implementation of each session;
Prepare a consolidated end of year report provide input into the forthcoming phase
Prepare participants’ lists and evaluations;
Market ALGAF

8. ALGAF Phases So far 9 Phases since 2000
ALGAF I: Pilot Phase after Africities 2000 in Windhoek, Namibia (August 2000 to June 2001
ALGAF II: Linking Intergovernmental Relations to Poverty Reduction (November 2001 to August 2002
ALGAF III: Fiscal Reforms and Service Delivery for Poverty Reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa (October 2002 to October 2003
ALGAF IV: Enhancing Local Governance Through Human Resource and Institutional Development for Sustainable Development, Poverty Reduction, Peace and Security (November 2003 to October 2004
ALGAF V: Participatory Governance for Sustainable Local Development (February 2005 to October 2005
ALGAF VI: (Enhancing Local Government Capacity for positive Transformation February 2006 to November 2006)
ALGAF VII: Enhancing Participatory Governance in Local Development (February 2007 to November 2007)
ALGAF VIII: Participatory Budgeting, Social Accountability and Social Inclusion (February 2008 in progress)

9. ALGAF PARTICIPANTS

10. Benefits
Fast tracking in Capacity Building (from 2000 – 2008, 12,800 participants have registered
Promoted peer to peer learning between 9 countries Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Washington, and Zimbabwe (breaking down barriers imposed by artificial boundaries
Promoted networking of knowledge and expertise on subjects such as poverty reduction, HIVAIDS, Gender, local economic development, participatory budgeting and social accountability, urban planning, etc.enabling local authorities to design effective responses to HIVAIDS
Minimized costs related to travel and accommodation

11. Impact
Some local authorities are able to prepare pro-poor, inclusive policies
Gender and HIV/AIDS policies are in place in participating local authorities
A number of local authorities have become resource municipalities out of exchange of good practices
Led to establishment of TALGAF in Tanzania
Integrated ICT in capacity building
Continued networking among participants and institutions

12. Challenges
Sustainability
Mobilising people from peripheral local authorities
Language constraints
Identifying appropriate speakers
Political social and economic environment

13. Tentative Solutions
Broaden sources of financial support including local contribution
Introduce radio programs through FMs to reach peripheral local authorities
Localise ALGAF into local languages e.g. TALGAF IN Tanzania
Keep a roaster of potential experts
Be sensitive to prevailing national framework conditions

14. Lessons Learned
Videoconferencing is not a replacement for conventional methods of training
“Technology does not teach, but effective teachers do’.
Videoconferencing still fail to reach some local authorities located in peripheral areas where there is no such technology. This has provoked MDP-ESA to promote radio programs.
The true cost of VC is not known which has implication on the sustainability of the program

15. For all Presentations and Reports on MDP-ESA ALGAF, Visit
Contact Person: Mr. Phillip Kundishora

16. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION