PROJECT
Towards Collaborative and Transparent Local Development Planning
LESSON
Lesson Learned: Towards Collaborative and Transparent Local Development Planning
The project in Togo funded several micro-projects, enabling the participants to carry out their planning actions and observe visible results from their efforts. This source of motivation was probably the main reason for their continued involvement.
Project Partner
Centre International de Développement et de Recherche
Project Description
The project aimed to strengthen the ongoing decentralization process by involving the local population in local development planning. Activities included setting up and training members of cantonal / communal development committees and prefectural development committees in charge of identifying and prioritizing local development needs in order to enhance democratic governance. Support to the annual local development planning process included the implementation of 15 micro-projects which were part of the agreed local development plans, as well as awareness-raising campaigns on decentralization, local development and the roles of local civil servants and citizens.
The project strategy was coherent and designed to complement the grantee’s ongoing local governance support programme. The project was implemented by an international and a local partner NGO. The lack of a specific agreement between the grantee and its local partne, however, contributed to a lack of attention to the project specific elements within the wider development programme.
Report
Evaluation Date
December 2015
Theme
Country
LESSON
Lesson Learned: Towards Collaborative and Transparent Local Development Planning
The project prompted some local citizens to ask their officials about how their taxes were spent to meet local needs. Local officials attributed an improvement in the collection of tax revenues to this programme, which could be explained with the local population’s better understanding of how the development process works.
Project Partner
Centre International de Développement et de Recherche
Project Description
The project aimed to strengthen the ongoing decentralization process by involving the local population in local development planning. Activities included setting up and training members of cantonal / communal development committees and prefectural development committees in charge of identifying and prioritizing local development needs in order to enhance democratic governance. Support to the annual local development planning process included the implementation of 15 micro-projects which were part of the agreed local development plans, as well as awareness-raising campaigns on decentralization, local development and the roles of local civil servants and citizens.
The project strategy was coherent and designed to complement the grantee’s ongoing local governance support programme. The project was implemented by an international and a local partner NGO. The lack of a specific agreement between the grantee and its local partne, however, contributed to a lack of attention to the project specific elements within the wider development programme.
Report
Evaluation Date
December 2015
Theme
Country
LESSON
Lesson Learned: Towards Collaborative and Transparent Local Development Planning
Although the project activities were carried out before the government decided on the type of local structures to be created, they served as a platform between prefectural development groups and village development committees. These platforms continue to be used by local communities and officials, as well as by other donors / NGOs for policy dialogue and project implementation. This means that the experience gained in governance and democracy through the project and the programme of which it was part, can be sustainable.
Project Partner
Centre International de Développement et de Recherche
Project Description
The project aimed to strengthen the ongoing decentralization process by involving the local population in local development planning. Activities included setting up and training members of cantonal / communal development committees and prefectural development committees in charge of identifying and prioritizing local development needs in order to enhance democratic governance. Support to the annual local development planning process included the implementation of 15 micro-projects which were part of the agreed local development plans, as well as awareness-raising campaigns on decentralization, local development and the roles of local civil servants and citizens.
The project strategy was coherent and designed to complement the grantee’s ongoing local governance support programme. The project was implemented by an international and a local partner NGO. The lack of a specific agreement between the grantee and its local partne, however, contributed to a lack of attention to the project specific elements within the wider development programme.
Report
Evaluation Date
December 2015
Theme
Country
LESSON
Lesson Learned: Towards Collaborative and Transparent Local Development Planning
The project aimed to strengthen decentralized structures and systems before decisions had been made by the authorities on how decentralization would work. The grantee’s overall support programme also depended on the consent of local officials to participate which was not always forthcoming.
Project Partner
Centre International de Développement et de Recherche
Project Description
The project aimed to strengthen the ongoing decentralization process by involving the local population in local development planning. Activities included setting up and training members of cantonal / communal development committees and prefectural development committees in charge of identifying and prioritizing local development needs in order to enhance democratic governance. Support to the annual local development planning process included the implementation of 15 micro-projects which were part of the agreed local development plans, as well as awareness-raising campaigns on decentralization, local development and the roles of local civil servants and citizens.
The project strategy was coherent and designed to complement the grantee’s ongoing local governance support programme. The project was implemented by an international and a local partner NGO. The lack of a specific agreement between the grantee and its local partne, however, contributed to a lack of attention to the project specific elements within the wider development programme.
Report
Evaluation Date
December 2015
Theme
Country
LESSON
Lesson Learned: Towards Collaborative and Transparent Local Development Planning
The grantee’s ongoing programme a decentralized rural development programme - has overshadowed the governance elements of the UNDEF specific project. Overall, however, the UNDEF-financed sections were effective in strengthening community-based consultative bodies for local development and dialogue between these bodies and local officials.
Project Partner
Centre International de Développement et de Recherche
Project Description
The project aimed to strengthen the ongoing decentralization process by involving the local population in local development planning. Activities included setting up and training members of cantonal / communal development committees and prefectural development committees in charge of identifying and prioritizing local development needs in order to enhance democratic governance. Support to the annual local development planning process included the implementation of 15 micro-projects which were part of the agreed local development plans, as well as awareness-raising campaigns on decentralization, local development and the roles of local civil servants and citizens.
The project strategy was coherent and designed to complement the grantee’s ongoing local governance support programme. The project was implemented by an international and a local partner NGO. The lack of a specific agreement between the grantee and its local partne, however, contributed to a lack of attention to the project specific elements within the wider development programme.
Report
Evaluation Date
December 2015
Theme
Country
LESSON
Lesson Learned: Towards Collaborative and Transparent Local Development Planning
There was no reference system to measure or determine at the end of the project the level of understanding or observe the changes that may have occurred as a result of the project. The effectiveness of the awareness-raising work carried out through village meetings and radio programmes remains unclear. Similarly, it is difficult to assess whether the training courses, which provided a brief overview of governance issues, achieved real change.
Project Partner
Centre International de Développement et de Recherche
Project Description
The project aimed to strengthen the ongoing decentralization process by involving the local population in local development planning. Activities included setting up and training members of cantonal / communal development committees and prefectural development committees in charge of identifying and prioritizing local development needs in order to enhance democratic governance. Support to the annual local development planning process included the implementation of 15 micro-projects which were part of the agreed local development plans, as well as awareness-raising campaigns on decentralization, local development and the roles of local civil servants and citizens.
The project strategy was coherent and designed to complement the grantee’s ongoing local governance support programme. The project was implemented by an international and a local partner NGO. The lack of a specific agreement between the grantee and its local partne, however, contributed to a lack of attention to the project specific elements within the wider development programme.
Report
Evaluation Date
December 2015
Theme
Country
LESSON
Lesson Learned: Towards Collaborative and Transparent Local Development Planning
The project avoided the political dimension of decentralization, although its consideration would have been important to ensure relevance over time. While the project helped local areas to move towards a decentralized governance system, steps remain to be taken to institute genuine decentralization - particularly the election of local officials and adequate transfer of resources. Therefore the inclusion of an advocacy component would have greatly strengthened the programme.
Project Partner
Centre International de Développement et de Recherche
Project Description
The project aimed to strengthen the ongoing decentralization process by involving the local population in local development planning. Activities included setting up and training members of cantonal / communal development committees and prefectural development committees in charge of identifying and prioritizing local development needs in order to enhance democratic governance. Support to the annual local development planning process included the implementation of 15 micro-projects which were part of the agreed local development plans, as well as awareness-raising campaigns on decentralization, local development and the roles of local civil servants and citizens.
The project strategy was coherent and designed to complement the grantee’s ongoing local governance support programme. The project was implemented by an international and a local partner NGO. The lack of a specific agreement between the grantee and its local partne, however, contributed to a lack of attention to the project specific elements within the wider development programme.
Report
Evaluation Date
December 2015
Theme
Country