DESCRIPTION:

Geopolicity provided technical assistance to the UN Joint Program on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery (JPLG), and UNICEF respectively, in the formulation of JPLG II. 

 The UN Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery (JPLG) aims to strengthen local governance and enhance decentralized services in all the regions of Somalia. JPLG II was initiated in 2013 with the overall objective to promote improvements in local governance quality that can contribute to peace consolidation, development and equitable service delivery.  As part of the UN Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery (JPLG) with UN-Habitat, UNICEF, UNCDF and ILO, UNDP helps address these fundamental challenges of weak institutions and resource with unclear roles and responsibilities and an urgent need to increase the capacity of local government to deliver public services. This is largely funded through Sweden, European Commission, DFID, Norway and Denmark.

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To this effect, Geopolicity led scoping studies to identify current Local Government service delivery capacity, planning and budgetary practices within the Education, WASH and Health sectors in Somaliland and Puntland. This involved extensive review of the existing organizational functions and service delivery:

 

1. Identification of services delivered in the sector; The service generation, discharge and oversight functions of the relevant ministries;

2. The status of gender inclusion in terms of (i) central and local government staffing levels, (ii) role in service provision (including seniority and type of responsibilities assigned), and (iii) access of women and children to basic services;

3. Donors and stakeholders involvement costing services; and,

4. Laws and regulations defining service delivery, as well as the current response to such policy documents and frameworks adopted by the relevant sector ministries.

 

ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN:

Scoping and exploratory studies and surveys to identify current Local Government service delivery capacities, revenues, planning and budgetary practices within the Education, WASH and Health sectors in Somaliland and Puntland.

 

Engaged in (i) surveys and interviews with government, private sector providers and recipient households, (ii) identification of services delivered in the sector, (iii) assessment of the roles of the relevant ministries, donors and stakeholders, (iv) costing services, and (v) review of laws and regulations defining service delivery. Consultancy services for the preparation and writing of the JPLG2 project document, including analysis of lessons learned, legal context, management and coordination, budget and financing plan, and fund management  

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OUTCOME:

Improve policy and legal frameworks to enable local governments to effectively deliver equitable services. Technical support in producing a draft decentralization policy and roadmap for Somaliland and Puntland, implemented in conjunction with a capacity development strategy.  Dialogue on decentralization between ministries of the Federal Government of Somalia informing the drafting of a policy. Furthermore, 13 District Councils and 513 administrative staff – including 70 women – were trained on Public Planning and Expenditures Management processes. Also, UNDP supported a change management process to improve coordination and effectiveness of the Municipality of Mogadishu with the Federal Government of Somalia.

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PROJECT DETAILS: