Promoting effective decentralisation in Timbuktu

The project seeks to contribute to the reduction of poverty in Mali, through improved decentralization of governance that will deliver community-led sustainable change.

Project Summary

This project will strengthen the decentralisation process in rural Mali, enabling poor people to play a lead role in holding local government to account and ensuring the delivery basic services in their communities.  15,000 people will have better access to health, education and water services as a result of increased collaboration between community groups and local government, working together in a transparent manner to ensure that local development is effective and responds directly to the needs of the most vulnerable inhabitants.

Project Background

Since the first democratically elected government in 1992, Mali has been engaged on a path towards increased democratisation and decentralisation of governance. Successful rural elections in 1999 created three autonomous layers of local government; local council (‘commune’), district (‘cercle’) and regional councils. Today Mali has 703 communes with significant autonomy and responsibility for planning and implementing local development. However despite government commitment to, and popular support for the idea of the decentralisation, there are significant weaknesses in this practice.

The problems stem from a lack of capacity, (in terms of administration, planning and budget management) at the local government level, as well as with local associations and other development stakeholders. There is also a limited understanding of responsibilities among these different bodies. Although community-based Civil Society Organisations (e.g. health associations, school parents groups, producer groups) have been established to represent communities’ interests, they are largely overlooked by local government and lack the capacity to advocate effectively for their constituents’ rights. These challenges are exacerbated in Timbuktu, where the geographical isolation and nomadic nature of communities have complicated efforts to engage them in decentralisation. Failure to implement decentralisation effectively in Timbuktu, historically overlooked in national policy-making, is negatively impacting on the delivery of basic services and fuelling distrust of government and the very process of decentralisation.

Project Aims

The anticipated changes that will occur as a result of the project are:

1.  Communities in 5 communes of Timbuktu district to have a greater awareness of their rights, an increased voice in the formulation and implementation of local development plans and better understanding of the means to hold local government to account. Special attention will also be shown to specifically disadvantaged groups, such as women and nomadic groups

2. Community-based Civil Society Groups (CSOs) will develop increased capacity to represent all sectors of the communities targeted. They will advocate at local government level to ensure plans and services meet the needs of their constituents and will work in partnership with local government in delivering basic services.

3. Local government officers in 5 communes of Timbuktu district will develop increased capacity and confidence to effectively plan and manage development processes in a transparent manner, and respond better to local needs and interests.

4. Increase in the transfer of resources to Timbuktu region from national Ministries, as a result of increased confidence in capacity.

Project activities

The project will take place in 5 communes in the Timbuktu region: Timbuktu city, Alafia, Bourem Inaly, Lafia, Ber.

The following activities will be carried out:

1. Rights-based information workshops for CSOs and community leaders, as well as a community-led awareness-raising campaign, will focus on promoting community participation in the decentralisation processes.  Particular emphasis will be placed on ensuring equitable access to existing community structures for women and nomadic communities.  The development of a comprehensive and locally appropriate two-way information-sharing system will ensure that the voices of traditionally excluded groups including women, HIV/AIDS sufferers, the disabled, and nomads are heard.

2. A tailored training programme for CSOs will include focus on basic management skills and roles and responsibilities of the different stakeholders in development and advocacy training. Pilot projects will demonstrate partnership between local government and CSOs in delivering development, which responds to the needs of marginalised groups.

3. A capacity-building programme for local government will complement existing national government initiatives, and will include focus on community consultation and gender issues. CSO participation at workshops will encourage increased cross-sector interaction. Transparent management of pilot projects and active participation in the information-sharing system will be key to developing government accountability and transparency.

4. Collaboration with the Supreme Council (HNCT) of local governments will be central to sharing best practice and lessons learned at the national level and to developing an advocacy strategy targeting the national ministries.

Project partners

AMSS will be the implementing partner, leading locally in the delivery of capacity building programmes for CSOs and local government, pilot projects, information workshops and awareness raising campaigns.  AMSS is an independent Malian NGO established in 1992 with extensive experience of working with community-based associations and the local government to promote sustainable development in Timbuktu.