NL-KVK-27195046-IDEAL.SO VNG International Decentralisation in Somaliland is still in its early stages. While District Councils are mandated to provide services to citizens, there is still an unclear delineation of roles and responsibilities, as most sectors are (in practice) not yet decentralised from the line ministries and in many cases delivery been taken over by NGOs. Furthermore, there is a palpable mismatch between the responsibilities allocated to districts and the (financial and human) resources they have. The Association of Local Government Authorities of Somaliland (ALGASL) was established in 2006 by the mayors of 10 district councils. ALGASL aims to build strong local governments and support decentralisation, benefiting local communities, including marginalized groups such as women, youth and IDPs. At present, ALGASL has 10 paying members out of the 23 districts with elected district councils. Though ALGASL has potential, the association is constrained by a lack of human and financial resources, which hinders its ability to fulfill its mandate and attract additional members. If strengthened, ALGASL can play a pivotal role in working towards more legitimate local governments, because of its mandate to lobby and advocate for the interests of districts and to build their capacity. It is a highly relevant linchpin between central and local government, can provide nationwide outreach and can promote exchange of experience among districts through its platform function. In its first year(s), the programme will work towards achieving the following outputs: * Output 3.1 The institutional sustainability of ALGASL has been strengthened. * Output 3.2 The capability of ALGASL to provide services to members in policy areas related to resilience and to build capabilities of members has improved. * Output 3.3 The capability of ALGASL to engage in intergovernmental relations and carry out evidence-based lobby and advocacy in support of increased local autonomy and resources is strengthened. * Output 3.4 The capability of ALGASL to contribute to the localisation and implementation of the National Gender Policy has improved. * Output 3.5 The capability of ALGASL to provide coordination mechanisms between districts and other stakeholders has been enhanced. In subsequent years, the programme will also work towards achieving the following outputs: * Output 1.1 Services provided by ALGASL increase the awareness of pilot districts of their mandate, roles and responsibilities in service delivery in policy areas related to resilience. * Output 1.2 Services provided by ALGASL contribute to increased technical knowledge and coordination capabilities in pilot districts to deliver services in policy areas related to resilience. * Output 1.3 Services provided by ALGASL improve the awareness and capabilities of pilot districts to take community needs (especially marginalised groups – women, youth and IDPs) into account in delivering services in policy areas related to resilience. * Output 2.1 Services provided by ALGASL increase the awareness of pilot districts on the importance of community outreach and their capability for participatory planning and policy-making (especially involving marginalised groups). * Output 2.2 Leadership trajectories provided by ALGASL promote political participation of women and youth in pilot districts. Inclusive Decisions At Local Level (IDEAL) The impact of the overall IDEAL programme is: The stronger social contract between local governments and citizens has enhanced local governments' capacity to cope with fragility risks. The outcomes of the IDEAL Som. programme are: * Outcome 1: ALGASL services contribute to more responsive and effective service delivery (in policy areas relating to resilience) in pilot districts. * Outcome 2: ALGASL services contribute to more inclusive and participatory decision-making processes (in policy areas relating to resilience) in pilot districts. * Outcome 3: ALGASL contributes to an improved policy and institutional environment of districts. The programme focuses on Outcome 3 for the first year(s) of implementation. Subsequently, Outcomes 1 and 2 will be phased into the programme in selected pilot districts. The programme primarily targets the Association of Local Government Authorities of Somaliland (ALGASL) as beneficiary and implementing partner. In later years of the programme, ALGASL will jointly implement interventions to contribute to Outcomes 1 and 2 together with the programme team. The target area for this programme is Somaliland. The programme focuses on strengthening the Association of Local Government Authorities of Somaliland to play its role in service delivery to members, lobby & advocacy and coordination, with the aim of enabling districts to contribute to resilience at the local level. VNG International VNG International Akvo Foundation VNG International Chris van Hemert Deputy Business Unit Manager chris.vanhemert@vng.nl http://www.vng-international.nl Nassaulaan 12 2514 JS Den Haag The Netherlands Somaliland (not an option in the drop-down list) 9.562389 44.077013 401941 350000 280000 268059 200000 291873 VNG International VNG International 291873 VNG International VNG International 395790 VNG International VNG International 395790 VNG International VNG International 392283 VNG International VNG International 392283 VNG International VNG International Enabling environment is a set of interrelated conditions that impact on the capacity of local governments to engage in development processes in a sustained and effective manner. By policy environment we refer to the set of legal, administrative and procedural frameworks that affect the capacity of the local governments to drive development process and change. By institutional environment we refer to the set of inter-institutional relations that determine the capacities of the local governments to carry out their functions. This index is made up of 3 indicators measured through focus group discussions with local government representatives and stakeholders: 1. Policy coordination mechanisms between stakeholders in the policy area are regularly implemented 2. The LG remunerates the local government association for its services in the policy area 3. The local government association provides support to LGs to provide gender sensitive policies and related services in the policy area The Institutional Environment (objective) index shows the average score attributed by an analyst across these three indicators on a scale from 0 to 100, based on whether these elements are embedded and sustainable (75-100%), existent and positive but with room for improvement (50-75%), existent but insufficient (25-50%), or inexistent, very poor, with a negative impact (0-25%). The enabling environment index combines the four indexes under Outcome 3 measuring the policy and institutional environment of local governments through perception and objective indicators. The index is scored on a range of 0 (very poor) to 100 (very good). This index is made up of 3 indicators measured through focus group discussions with local government representatives and stakeholders: 1. Key documents relevant for service delivery in the policy area are published and circulated among stakeholders 2. Legislation and policies are informed by national or international good practices in the policy area 3. The advocacy of the local government association (or the LG) is reflected in national policy initiatives in the policy area The Policy Environment (objective) index shows the average score attributed by an analyst across these three indicators on a scale from 0 to 100, based on whether these elements are embedded and sustainable (75-100%), existent and positive but with room for improvement (50-75%), existent but insufficient (25-50%), or inexistent, very poor, with a negative impact (0-25%). This index is made up of 4 indicators measured through a survey with political actors and LG stakeholders. 1. The local government association participates in multi-stakeholders activities relevant to policy area 2. There is good coordination between stakeholders when it comes to improving the quality of service delivery in policy area 3. The local government is aware of the role of the local government association and the services it provides related to the policy area. 4. The local government association provides high quality services to its members in policy area. The Institutional Environment (perception) index shows the average percentage of respondents who answered ‘Strongly agree’, ‘Agree’, or ‘Yes' across these four indicators, for the specific policy area selected in each country programme. This index is made up of 4 indicators measured through a survey with political actors and LG stakeholders: 1. The legal framework outlining the roles and responsibilities of the local government is clear for the policy area 2. The national policy making procedures for policy area allows participation of the local government and relevant stakeholders 3. The local government needs are reflected in national policy documents related to policy area 4. Women’s needs are integrated in the national policies in policy area | Youth’s needs are integrated in the national policies in policy area. The policy environment (perception) index shows the average percentage of respondents who answered ‘Strongly agree’, ‘Agree’, or ‘Yes' across these four indicators, for the specific policy area selected in each country programme. Input legitimacy is the part of the institutions’ legitimacy, which is based on their capacity to both accommodate the active participation of citizens’ throughout the decision-making process (participation) and to ensure adequate representation of all interests in society at various levels of governance in a fair and equal manner (inclusiveness). This index is made up of 3 indicators measured through focus group discussions with local government representatives and stakeholders: 1. Citizens are involved in participatory activities organised by the local government as inputs for policy making in the policy area 2. The participatory activities organised for the policy making process by the local government in the policy area are timely and regular 3. Information generated at the local government in the policy area is shared regularly with citizens The participation (objective) index shows the average score attributed by an analyst across these three indicators on a scale from 0 to 100, based on whether these elements are embedded and sustainable (75-100%), existent and positive but with room for improvement (50-75%), existent but insufficient (25-50%), or inexistent, very poor, with a negative impact (0-25%). This index is made up of 3 indicators measured through focus group discussions with local government representatives and stakeholders: 1. The local government policies in the policy area are informed by stakeholders 2. There is transparency in the selection of stakeholders in participatory mechanisms in the policy area 3. The local government decisions in the policy area reflects women’s | youth needs The Inclusivity (objective) index shows the average score attributed by an analyst across these three indicators on a scale from 0 to 100, based on whether these elements are embedded and sustainable (75-100%), existent and positive but with room for improvement (50-75%), existent but insufficient (25-50%), or inexistent, very poor, with a negative impact (0-25%). This index is made up of 4 indicators measured through a citizen survey: 1. The local government gets the inputs of citizens when making decisions on policies related to policy area 2. Every group (young, women, sick, elderly, religion, ethnicity) in the society participates in decision making processes related to policy area 3. Citizens know how they can participate in decisions of the local governments (in policy area) 4. Citizens feel their opinion is important to the local government (in policy area) The participation (perception) index shows the average percentage of respondents who answered ‘Strongly agree’, ‘Agree’, or ‘Yes' across these four indicators, for the specific policy area selected in each country programme. This index is made up of 4 indicators measured through a citizen survey: 1. The local government involves relevant people/groups/institutions/organisations in decisions for the policy area 2. Citizens feel they can disagree on topics related to policy area with the leaders or other individuals in public 3. The local government treats the views and opinions of different groups equally on the policy area 4. Women (citizens) take active part in the decision making process on policy area | Youth (citizens) take active part in the decision making process on policy area The Inclusivity (perception) index shows the average percentage of respondents who answered ‘Strongly agree’, ‘Agree’, or ‘Yes' across these five indicators, for the specific policy area selected in each country programme. The input legitimacy index combines the four indexes under Outcome 2 measuring participation and inclusiveness through perception and objective indicators. The index is scored on a range of 0 (very poor) to 100 (very good). Output legitimacy is the part of the institution’s legitimacy that is constructed as a result of their perceived and observable achievements. By responsiveness we understand the capacity to address (identifiable) needs/demands by citizens and respond to existing (measurable) challenges in a community. By effectiveness we understand the degree to which policy objectives are achieved and the extent to which targeted problems are solved through concrete interventions of the local governments. This index is made up of 2 indicators measured through focus group discussions with local government representatives and stakeholders: 1. Policies clearly target citizens' concerns (match with citizens answers to answer 1 on key priorities in policy area during analysis) 2. The local government addresses the needs of various groups in the community related to service delivery in the policy area. The Responsiveness (objective) index shows the average score attributed by an analyst across these two indicators on a scale from 0 to 100, based on whether these elements are embedded and sustainable (75-100%), existent and positive but with room for improvement (50-75%), existent but insufficient (25-50%), or inexistent, very poor, with a negative impact (0-25%). This index is made up of 2 indicators measured through focus group discussions with local government representatives and stakeholders: 1. The services delivered by the local government solve the key issues in the policy area. 2. Roles of actors involved in policy implementation (incl. Services) are clearly defined in the policy area. The effectiveness (objective) index shows the average score attributed by an analyst across these two indicators on a scale from 0 to 100, based on whether these elements are embedded and sustainable (75-100%), existent and positive but with room for improvement (50-75%), existent but insufficient (25-50%), or inexistent, very poor, with a negative impact (0-25%). This index is made up of 4 indicators measured through a citizen survey: 1. The local government does enough to address top challenges in the community in the policy area 2. The local political leaders understand the needs of the local community in the policy area 3. The policies of the local government address the most urgent needs of women | youth in the policy area 4. Citizens can identify one action of the local government to answer their needs in the policy area The responsiveness (perception) index shows the average percentage of respondents who answered ‘Strongly agree’, ‘Agree’, or ‘Yes' across these four indicators, for the specific policy area selected in each country programme. This index is made up of 4 indicators measured through a citizen survey: 1. The local government has competent people to implement its strategy in the policy area. 2. The local government improves women's | young people’s lives in the policy area. 3. The local government is taking action to tackle factors which hinder its performance in the policy area. 4. Citizens are satisfied with the services related to policy area The effectiveness (perception) index shows the average percentage of respondents who answered ‘Strongly agree’, ‘Agree’, or ‘Yes' across these four indicators, for the specific policy area selected in each country programme. The output legitimacy index combines the four indexes under Outcome 1 measuring responsiveness and effectiveness through perception and objective indicators. The index is scored on a range of 0 (very poor) to 100 (very good). The contract between local governments and citizens is the mechanism by which everyone in a political community, either explicitly or tacitly, consents to state authority, thereby limiting some of her freedoms, in exchange for the state’s protection of their universal human rights and security and for the adequate provision of public goods and services. The program impact is measured by the social contract index, which combines the three level II outcome indices: output legitimacy index, input legitimacy index and enabling environment index. The social contract index is scored on a range of 0 (very poor) to 100 (very good).