Africa Regional Seminar on Participatory Budgeting Presentation of the case of a rural municipality in Thierry RANDRIARILALA Christelle MELLY
Decentralization in : a recent process 1990: beginning of the process of decentralization November 1995: first municipal election (1557 municipalities created) June 2004: 22 regions established But the foundation of the Malagasy society still remains the Fokonolona (village)
Participatory Budgeting in : municipal revenues very low (not even covering fixed costs in many cases) no legal obligation to apply any participatory processes in budgeting present project: first pilot initiative to develop PB in (2005)
Situation of the Ambalavao municipality Antanananarivo: Capital of Municipality of Ambalavao 44, 4 km2 15 villages 8738 inhabitants
Origin and caracteristics of the project Conflict between the Executive Staff and the Councellors Visit of a well managed rural municipality by the Executive with project support Demand for support to realize the Municipal Development Plan Several issues concerning good governance came out as priorities (communication, participation, )
One particular aspect: the poor With the support of the Programme SAHA, the municipality set up criteria to identify the poorest amongst the citizens; these criteria are: - being orphans without parents support, - being without own land, - suffering from starvation (not only during the critical period preceding a harvesting season). The Municipality has decided to organize once a year a labour intensive social protection activity where only identified poor people are given a job and therefore a salary.
FILM
Lessons learned Internal defined process insuring empowerment and pursuit beyond electoral changes Participation helps increase in rates collection (8% to 52% on land and property) Better informed population are more willing to financially contribute to project implementation
Lessons learned NGO s self confidence and empowerment increase a more involvement in municipal development PB process was a mean to improve collaboration between State agents and local governments
Challenges On local level Further support of the dynamic by SAHA Programme Reinforcement of local capacities after the last election (dec. 07) Deepen further the BP process Facilitation of partnership with other donors and municipalities
Challenges On national level Dissemination of the experience with the World Bank and other projects and municipalities in Feeding the Ministry of Decentralization with the results of the PB experience Contribution to the ongoing reforms of the decentralization texts
Challenges On international level Sharing of the malagasy experience on PB with other countries Develop networking
Few testimonies NGOs: we are now included in every municipal meeting and this motive us to discuss and think together about municipal development Mayor: I m now confident and relax when I have to present a project to the Council State agent: I m very convinced that the process is very interesting and helps the population to better understand municipal matters (budget, management, )
Thanks for your attention!
Municipality of Ambalovoa: Brief presentation 44, 4 km 2 15 villages 8738 inhabitants Legislative body Municipal Council 8 members ( 4 political parties) Executive Body Mayor + 6 members Municipal staff 5 persons Technical services (deconcentration) 51 persons ( with teachers and sanitary staff)
Challenges in the Municipality Ambalavao In 2003, when SAHA Programme started to investigate the situation following problems were encountered: non accountable municipal actors intricated municipal management very low implementation of municipal plan limited relations between municipality and citizens bad quality of municipal service delivery
Actual municipal budget cycle August 15 general assemblies in each village Inputs from individuals and NGOs Inputs from 4 political parties Cellule de Programme (programme board): September All governmental deconcentreted services Municipality 15 chiefs of villages Finalisation of budget proposal
October Session of legislatif body (Council) Adoption of municipal budget October- November Control of legality by the chief of circonscription (governmental body)
December Publication of the municipal budget on all 15 municipal information boards Fokontany = a group of villages ANOSIBE = name of this group
December Yearly budget cycle January Activation of funds from budget by mayor + info to Municipal council Extraordinary session of Municipal council in case the cost of a project goes over the budget or in case external funds have been found 26 June National Day During that occasion, the mayor informs citizens about mid term budget situation and on going activities
Detailed elements in use in the municipality Participation of the civil society The mayor doen t want to formalize the budget process to allow individuals and agriculture associations to always use any opportunities to come in the main village to approach him with questions and proposals. One full day of discussion is one day lost in the fields and therefore the mayor doesn t want to trouble them. The mayor is now going over the legal obligation that mention only that the Executive board prepares the annual budget.
The 15 general assemblies in the villages are always planned and annonced well in advance for the people to prepare and organize themselves. Announcement of assemblies are made with detailled agenda.
Relation of the budget process and the Municipal Development Plan The Municipal Development Plan was elaborated in a participative way but did not mention any priority. It is therefore a frame used by each village development committee to make investment proposals for each annuel budget proposal. The municipality on its side is adjusting the Municipal Development Plan every year according to prioritized projects by each village.
Involvment of Political Parties It s the mission of the President of the Municipal Council to gather proposals for the annual budget plan from all 4 political parties and to bring them to the mayor. The President of the Municipal Council is fully integrated into the Executive board preparing the final draft of the Budget to be proposed to the Council. Counsellors receive the budget proposal well in advance before the Municipal Council session.
Presentation of the budget Presented with a clear distinction between administrative budget costs and investment budget costs and with a detailled report. Yearly Budget (Year X) is showed parallely with the previous year budget (X-1) and the accounts of the penultimate year (X-2).
Information communication The muncipality displays information notice with detailled budget on each village board as soon as it is accepted by the Municipal Council. The Municipality prints once a year a municipal bulletin with information regarding municipal project s realisation and budget presentation. During the National Day (26 th June) the mayor uses the opportunity to have almost 80% of the population gathered to inform the community about half year realization of budget spending.
3 official books are kept at disposal of anybody at the municipality: - a book of all activities of villages - a book of all activities of the Executive board - a book of all activities of the Municipal Council These books mention also all participants and minutes of all meetings and official events.
Education During the preparation of the Municipal Development Plan, the Municipality identified with citizens a real need of education to reinforce communication and negociation skills of citizen groups and village developpement committees. 5 villages were given support and the improvement was immediately visible in terms of improved social dialogue.
How did the Programme supported these changes? In supporting the gathering of citizens and agriculture association for the first time to set up the draft of a Municipal Development Plan. In supporting the mayor to change his attitude towards participative mechanisms, he used to be very scared before every session of the Municipal Council and never consulted anybody during planning process. In supporting the Municipality to educate municipal employees with skills and tools for negociation and communication to disseminate those knowledge in villages amongst village development committees.
Thanks for your attention!