• [email protected]
  • +93 798094364

    Strengthening Subnational Governance

    GOALS
    Subnational governance reforms were needed to strengthen systems of local governance and increase citizens and local government institutions in budgeting and other decision-making processes about their communities. The strategy to strengthen the physical and administrative presence in all districts has been articulated in the Subnational Governance National Priority Program, to ensure public safety and maintain oversight of security, legal, and social service agencies. Other initiatives to strengthen local governance is an investment program to extend a permanent government presence to provinces and districts combined with increasing the share of spending through subnational governments and reforming the electoral process, including direct elections for mayors by 2019.

    OVERALL PROGRESS
    Achieved (1/5): 20.0 Achieved (1/5): 20.0 %Partially achievedand ongoing (4/5):80.0 %Partially achievedand ongoing (4/5):80.0 %Partially achieved and ongoing (4/5)Percentage: 80.0

    DELIVERABLES
    – An investment program to extend a permanent government presence to provinces and districts combined with increasing the share of spending through subnational governments and reforming the electoral process, including direct elections for mayors by 2019
     
    PROGRESS: – Partially achieved and on-going.
    • In May 2018, the High Council for Rule of Law and Anti-corruption approved the Subnational Governance Policy (SNGP). In order to implement the policy, a National Priority Program was formerly approved by the High Council for Poverty Reduction but needs alignment with the newly-approved policy. The World Bank has agreed to allocate $50m for the NPP through the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF).                                                                                                                                                      
    • The Provincial Budgeting Policy was passed and is being implemented. This policy was piloted in ten pilot ministries (MAIL, MRRD, MoE, MoPH, MoPW, MoEW, MoHE, MoLSAMD, Ministry of Transport and IDLG) and roll-out of the policy continues;
    • The Provincial Councils Oversight Regulation was approved in  February 2017 in the cabinet and is being applicable.
    • In order to unify all councils under one law including the Provincial Councils, District Councils, Village Councils and Municipal Councils, the Local Councils Law is drafted and is in the final stages of consultations with all state and non-state actors in the center and local level before being sent to the Ministry of Justice.
    • The IARCSC has been working closely with the Independent Directorate for Local Governance (IDLG) to institute transparent, merit-based recruitment systems for mayoral and district governorships, a first for the country. To date,  21 new city mayors ( Jalalabad, Lashkargah, Ghazni, Mehtarlam, Bamyan, Bazarak, Farah, Asadabad, Zaranj, Qala-e Naw, Khost, Pule Khumri, Charikar, Gardez, Sharan, Taloqan, Sheberghan, Fero Koh, Maimanah, Pole Alam, Parun)  have been recruited via a new transparent and merit-based recruitment process. This paves the way for mayoral elections in the coming years. Also, applicants are hired for 18 municipality positions in provincial capitals through interviews and written assessment. Another 15 positions slated to be filled through the new open competition process.
    – Improving support and coordination for budgeting, planning, and implementation
     PROGRESS: – Achieved.
    • Substantial progress was made over the past two years in fiscal de-concentration and provincial progress. In line with budget policy and financial regulations, the budget authority has been delegated from central ministries to provincial directorates and piloted in the following six ministries: the Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Technology, Ministry of Water and Energy, Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Ministry of Higher Education, and Independent Directorate of Local Governance. 34 million was allocated and divided to 34 provinces via four key service-delivery line ministries (MAIL, MRRD, MoPH, MoE) for 2017 for 359 provincial projects. The execution rate for these 359 provincial projects was above 80 percent. Based on lessons learned from implementation of the unconditional fund allocation in 2017, the process was amended accordingly and is being implemented for 2018.
    • A mechanic for allocation unconditional funds for  2017-2018, along with execution guidelines, were developed.
    • A Provincial Public Finance Management Committee (PPFMC) was established in each province, led by the Ministry of Finance in order to improve communication and coordination between line ministries and the provincial directorates in the public financial management.
    • The Public Finance Management (PFM) Law was amended to increase the involvement of subnational authorities in the budgeting process, and subsequently approved by the Cabinet on November 29, 2017.
    • During the 2018 national budget formulation process, capacity building sessions on budget formulation were conducted for provincial directorates in all 34 provinces for budget circular zones 1 and 2 were conducted during FY 2018 budget formulation for all 34 provincial directorates’ staff.
    – Strengthening municipal capacity for revenue collection and service delivery
     PROGRESS: – Partially achieved and on-going.
    • The Municipality Law was approved by the Cabinet on September 4, 2018. It replaces the Taliban-era law from 2000 and defines responsibilities of all offices, creates a path for the election of mayors, creates a municipal incentive fund and a framework for social housing.
    • In coordination with the Independent Directorate for Local Governance (IDLG), the Independent  Administrative Reforms and Civil Service Commission (IARCSC) conducted a comprehensive evaluation of public administrations in nine provinces, including Logar, Nangarhar, Badakhshan, Kunduz, Kandahar, Khost, Herat, Bamiyan and Balkh. The detailed provincial evaluation report will be released soon.The evaluation identified structural gaps, professional overlaps and capacity issues in the local administration and makes remedial recommendations, which are being implemented currently.The evaluation also discusses sources and causes of national revenue losses and appraises the performance of high-ranking local administration officials.
    • IARCSC is conducting a functional review of 13 ministries including IDLG to redefine and restructure the relationship between the centre of the government and local administrative units. The objective is to gradually give more authority to local administrative units at district and provincial level on service delivery. 
    – Increasing government presence at the district level
     PROGRESS: – Partially achieved and on-going.
    • Of the 21 deputy governors appointed by the National Unity Government, seven were recruited through an open competition process, and remaining 14 via appointments (prior to the new open competition process being launched in December 2017).
    • Of the 205 district governors recruited by the NUG, 125 district governors were recruited through an open competition process, and 80 of them were hired before the start of the process.
    • The IARCSC has been working closely with the Independent Directorate for Local Governance (IDLG) to institute transparent, merit-based recruitment systems for mayoral and district governorships, a first for the country. To date, 21 new city mayors ( Jalalabad, Lashkargah, Ghazni, Mehtarlam, Bamyan, Bazarak, Farah, Asadabad, Zaranj, Qala-e Naw, Khost, Pule Khumri, Charikar, Gardez, Sharan, Taloqan, Sheberghan, Fero Koh, Maimanah, Pole Alam, Parun) have been recruited via a new transparent and merit-based recruitment process. Based on this new procedure, the top three applicants identified via the open competitive recruitment processes are submitted to the President who then selects the successful candidate. This process will allow a smooth transition to mayoral elections which are slated to commence in 2019.
    – Strengthening the capacity of provincial and district governors.
     PROGRESS: – Partially achieved and on-going.
    • Candidates for governorships, mayors, and other subnational governance positions are now recruited through a merit-based process, which results in more capable candidates. Candidates for these positions also now undergo an integrity review.
    • Management processes and policies are being developed to guide the implementation of the duties of deputy provincial governors and district governors.
    • Capacity-building trainings are regularly delivered to provincial government staff; for example, provincial budgeting workshops were delivered in all 34 provinces as part of the 2017 and 2018 budget development process.