Decentralization Flashcards
Introduction - SRABLO
involves SHIFTING decision-making powers from central government to lower levels of government
the key motivation behind decentralization is to shift some RESPONSIBILITIES and functions from the central government to lower levels of government.
This gives AUTHORITY to those who are directly impacted by decision and are closer to the specific issues
The primary goal of decentralization is to strike a BALANCE between the needs and aspirations of local governments and the main objectives of the central government.
Decentralization is not a ONE- dimensional process; it includes several dimensions, each representing different aspects of the transfer of power and responsibility such as political, administrative and fiscal
Decentralisation as a determinant for local government policy making -SILA
Decentralisation plays a role in SHAPING local government policymaking as
it INFLUENCES how authority and capacities are distributed within government structures.
The LEVEL of decentralisation in a country directly affects the ability of local governments to independently create and implement policies.
In exploring how decentralisation determines local government policy making it is essential to ANALYZ its type and how these enhance local governance effectiveness.
TYPES of decentralization
Decentralization is not a one-dimensional process; it includes several dimensions, each representing different aspects of the transfer of power and responsibility.
Decentralisation can be categorised as follows: (1) political, (2) administrative, and (3) fiscal decentralisation.
Political decentralization - DALRE
political decentralization entails the creation of DEMOCRATIC elections for local governance
refers to how AUTHORITY and power is distributed in public policy-making both among various layers of government and horizontally among units within the same government level.
ensures that LOCAL leaders, such as mayors, council members, are chosen through democratic elections.
It gives local authorities the power to establish and enforce laws and RULES that are customized for their specific communities to tackle local problems more efficiently
leads to ENHANCED service provision as voters choosing representatives they trust to be responsible and efficiently meet community requirements
Administrative decentralization - RADLC
Is about how the RESONSIBLITY for delivering services is spread out among different layers of government.
involving the ALLOCATION of various governmental functions and
powers in a hierarchical structure
This entails the DELEGATION of duties and identifying their placement within the structure of government authority
Empowers LOCAL authorities to allocate public services
This allows local authorities to CUSTOMIZE services based on the unique needs and priorities of their communities
Fiscal decentralisation - FRLO
entails the delegation of FINANCIAL authority and obligations to subordinate levels of government
involves REVENUE collection and distribution where local governments gain control over how financial revenue is generated and allocated.
defines LELVEL of government responsible for different aspects of financial management such as decisions on who collects taxes, how public money is spent
OUTLINES how financial resources are shared between the national and local governments
CASE STUDY
Ugu District - KZN
Take for instance the case of municipalities like Ugu District in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
To improve water and Sanitation management, the central government aimed to restructure the top-down, hierarchical system into a more participatory and collaborative model, empowering local municipalities to manage resources more effectively and equitably.
Advantages
The case of Ugu District demonstrates that decentralisation allowed for better alignment with GLOBAL standards, such as Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) where there is a coordinated development and management of water without compromising sustainability.
This is beneficial for managing LIMITED water resources especially in a water-scarce country like SA
Ugu District was also empowered to manage their own resources, including water and sanitation systems.
This decentralised approach provides local governments with the AUTONOMY to make decisions that better fit their specific contexts, enabling more effective and equitable resource management.
Disadvantages
in the case of Ugu District, the decentralisation of WaS services shows that, while decentralisation can bring governance closer to the people, it can also expose WEAKNESSES in local governments.
The municipality lacked the right RESOURCES to maintain water infrastructure and handle certain responsibilities
This situation was exacerbated by POLITICAL interference, where the provision of water was worsened by addressing critical issues like water infrastructure repairs, as political motives overshadow the actual needs of the community.
