In our first article entitled “The Challenges and Issues of Self-Assessment of Local Governance in a Context of Decentralization», we examined the main challenges faced by Cameroonian municipalities in assessing their governance autonomously. The objective of this second article is to go further by addressing the essential dimensions to assess the key actors to involve, and the key areas to monitor to ensure a rigorous self-assessment. By carrying out such an assessment, municipalities will not only be able to strengthen the transparency and efficiency of their management but also improve the quality of the services they offer to their citizens.
This second article is part of a series that will continue with a third part on “How municipalities can use the results of self-assessment to improve their governance.”
I. Essential Dimensions to Evaluate
The dimensions to be assessed as part of a self-assessment touch on several fundamental aspects of municipal management. Financial management, administration, citizen participation, infrastructure performance, and the provision of basic services constitute the pillars of local governance. These are the levers that, once properly assessed and adjusted, can improve the lives of citizens and ensure the harmonious development of the municipality.
- Social Governance and Citizen Participation
The goal of decentralization is to bring citizens closer to governance. Citizen participation is therefore an essential element for effective decentralization and an inclusive and transparent municipality. Citizens must be involved in local decision-making to strengthen the legitimacy of public actions.
In Cameroon, municipalities have a legal obligation to promote citizen participation in local policymaking. However, current practices are often seriously inadequate. Evaluating this aspect would strengthen citizen consultation and inclusion mechanisms and improve trust between the population and local authorities.
- Financial and Budgetary Governance
Financial and budgetary governance is crucial for a municipality. It refers to the set of practices that govern the management of public resources within a municipality.
In Africa, and more particularly in Cameroon, municipalities often face significant challenges in mobilizing their own revenue, managing state transfers, and using resources efficiently.
However, in many cases, budgetary practices lack transparency and compliance, hampering their effectiveness. A rigorous assessment of financial governance is therefore essential to ensure that every franc is spent transparently and efficiently. Compliance with legal standards is also essential to avoid misappropriation and inefficiencies.
Self-assessment in this area helps identify gaps and guide crucial budgetary reforms.
- Administrative Governance
Municipal administration is the driving force behind the implementation of political decisions. It refers to how municipal services are organized and managed. It ensures that policies and services are effectively implemented on the ground.
However, administrative dysfunctions can slow down processes, create blockages, and ultimately harm citizens. In the Cameroonian context, challenges include a lack of adequate training, work overload, and limited resources.
A well-conducted administrative assessment helps identify bottlenecks and optimize processes to improve the overall performance of the municipality.
- Infrastructure Performance
Infrastructure is a tangible reflection of a municipality’s commitment to meeting the needs of its citizens. Roads, markets, schools, health centers: all essential elements that directly influence quality of life.
However, in many Cameroonian municipalities, infrastructure maintenance remains a major challenge due to limited budgets and weak technical capacity.
An infrastructure performance assessment helps plan and prioritize investments, while ensuring sustainable management of existing resources.
- Performance in the Delivery of Basic Social Services
Finally, the provision of basic social services – such as education, health and sanitation – is one of the key areas of municipal governance.
In Cameroon, these services are often hampered by financial and organizational constraints. Evaluating their performance helps measure the real impact of local policies on citizens’ well-being and identify areas for improvement. Strengthening these services is essential to meet the needs of the population, particularly in rural areas where the needs are greatest.
Assessing these five dimensions is essential for effective and transparent municipal management. By focusing on financial, administrative, social, and infrastructure governance, as well as service delivery, Cameroonian municipalities can lay the foundations for more efficient management that is better adapted to the needs of citizens.
II. Key Actors in the Self-Assessment Process
The success of a self-assessment depends not only on the dimensions examined, but also on the involvement of key stakeholders. These stakeholders, whether internal or external, play a crucial role in ensuring the rigor and transparency of the process. From municipal officials to financial partners, each stakeholder must be involved to ensure a comprehensive and consistent assessment.
- Municipal Officials
Local elected officials, particularly mayors and city councilors, are primarily responsible for conducting the self-assessment. Their role is central because they drive reforms and ensure recommendations are implemented. Their involvement is crucial in providing strategic direction and ensuring the assessment is aligned with local realities.
- Municipal Agents
Municipal officials are the ones who implement the decisions made by municipal leaders on a daily basis. They are best placed to provide accurate feedback on field operations. Their involvement in the self-assessment process allows for the collection of relevant information on the challenges encountered and the successes observed, which is crucial for adjusting public policies.
- Citizens and Civil Society Organizations
The participation of citizens and civil society organizations (CSOs) is essential to ensure the transparency of the self-assessment. These actors offer an independent and critical perspective on the management of local affairs. Their inclusion in the assessment process provides external opinions that enrich the assessment and ensure that citizens’ concerns are taken into account.
- The State’s Decentralized Services
The State’s decentralized services play an essential technical and legal support role. They ensure that municipalities comply with legal and regulatory frameworks while ensuring the effective transfer of powers. Their participation in the self-assessment is crucial to ensuring that municipalities comply with legal obligations regarding decentralization.
- Technical and Financial Partners
Finally, technical and financial partners (TFPs) provide essential support to municipalities. Whether through technical assistance, training, or financing, their role is to strengthen local capacities and support the implementation of reforms resulting from the assessment. Their international expertise also allows for the integration of best practices and adaptation of solutions to local needs.
Self-assessment can only be successful if all relevant stakeholders are involved. The participation of elected officials, municipal officials, citizens, civil society organizations, decentralized services, and financial partners is essential to ensure a transparent and legitimate process. It is this synergy of stakeholders that strengthens local governance.
III. Key Areas to Assess
After identifying the key dimensions and stakeholders, it is crucial to focus on the specific areas to be assessed. These areas represent the most effective levers for improving municipal management and meeting citizens’ needs. Each area analyzed offers opportunities for improvement and concrete avenues for guiding reforms.
- The Effectiveness of Public Service Delivery
The municipality’s raison d’être is to deliver services to citizens. Evaluating public service delivery helps measure the effectiveness of local policies. It is essential for identifying areas where improvements are needed, particularly in crucial areas such as education, health, and sanitation.
- The Effectiveness and Compliance of Local Financial and Budgetary Governance
Assessing the alignment of financial practices with current standards is essential to ensuring transparency and efficient management of public resources. This not only minimizes the risk of misappropriation but also ensures that resources are mobilized and spent optimally. In the African context, where resources are often limited, optimizing local finances is imperative.
- The Effectiveness and Compliance of Local Administrative Governance
An efficient administration is a guarantee of effectiveness. Evaluating administrative practices helps identify organizational weaknesses and propose reforms to improve the efficiency of municipal services. This is particularly relevant in Cameroon, where administrative delays often hamper project implementation.
- Compliance with Standards and Regulations for the Management of Transferred Skills
The transfer of powers to municipalities is a pillar of decentralization. However, proper management of these powers can only be ensured if municipalities comply with current standards and regulations. This assessment helps identify compliance gaps and suggest adjustments. The assessment also allows for verification of the quality of these powers’ management and identification of training or resource needs.
- The Resilience of the Municipality
In a context where exogenous shocks are frequent, it is important to assess the capacity of Cameroonian municipalities to anticipate and adapt in order to minimize negative impacts on the population.
Municipalities must be able to cope with crises, whether climatic, economic, or security-related. Resilience assessments measure a municipality’s ability to anticipate and manage crises. It is essential to strengthen preparedness and minimize negative impacts on populations.
Assessing these key areas provides municipalities with a roadmap for improving their governance. By identifying weaknesses and targeting reforms, municipalities can increase their efficiency and meet the expectations of their citizens.
Self-assessment is a powerful tool for strengthening local governance in Cameroon. By closely examining financial, administrative, social, and infrastructure dimensions, and involving all relevant stakeholders, municipalities can identify their strengths and weaknesses. Article 3 will explore how municipalities can use the results of the self-assessment to concretely improve their governance, with a focus on best practices for implementing recommendations.
