Education and Training of Decentralisation Actors

Project description

Title: Education and training of decentralisation actors
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Mauritania
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Economic Affairs and Development, Mauritania
Overall term: 2012 to 2013

Context

At the start of 2010 the Mauritanian government adopted a declaration on decentralisation policy and local development. In the declaration, it affirmed its political will to continue the decentralisation process. For the decentralisation reform to succeed, all those involved in the process at community level – elected representatives of the people, those in authority and staff – must have suitable qualifications to perform their tasks in line with standards.

A key prerequisite is a harmonised and standardised education strategy at national level that is geared to the needs of municipal staff and representatives of the people. Overcoming communications shortcomings and capitalising on the potential in the field of education arising from cooperation between all actors are essential for the performance and expertise of decentralisation actors.

The project boosts the capacities of elected representatives of the people and municipal staff in order to increase their political participation and improve public services at community level.

Objective

Institutional, organisational and conceptual preconditions for education and training in the field of decentralisation have been created. They enable municipal officials and local representatives of the people to perform their duties in line with their roles.

Approach

The project objective will be achieved via a focus on three areas of consultancy:

1. Decentralised educational measures and raising awareness of men and women on local councils
2. Decentralised training of officials currently employed by municipalities
3. Centralised training for future municipal officials

In 2011 a national strategy for training decentralisation actors was drawn up. German international cooperation is assisting the government as it implements this strategy.

This support is Germany’s contribution to the European multi-donor programme PERICLES, which brings together the activities of various decentralisation actors.

The project works in close cooperation with the decentralisation element of the programme Good Governance – Support for Reform Processes in Public Finance and Decentralisation in Mauritania.

Results achieved so far

A basic document was drawn up for the implementation of the national training strategy for decentralisation actors (2012–2016).

A newly-established taskforce in the Directorate General for Territorial Communities (DGCT) is responsible for the harmonisation of education and training activities.

Working conditions and training needs were analysed for all professions and roles carried out in communities by officials and elected representatives.

The drafting of 13 job descriptions and 13 responsibility profiles served as a basis for developing 66 standardised training modules.

The project has led to Mauritania’s incorporation into the West African network for capacity building and resources for decentralisation, enabling the country to participate in regional exchange on the topic.

The extent to which municipalities perform their tasks to the satisfaction of the population can be benchmarked for the first time with a new, comprehensive baseline study.