Notes on Local Governance, MDGs and Social Protection ·

   John Samuel

The concept of Local Democratic Governance has become an integral part of local development approaches; including social protection, as well as for accelerating the process of achieving MDGs. Social Protection involves preventing, managing, and overcoming situations that adversely affect people’s well being. Social protection consists of policies and programs designed to reduce poverty and vulnerability by promoting efficient labor markets, diminishing people's exposure to risks, and enhancing their capacity to manage economic and social risks, such as unemployment, exclusion, sickness, disability and old age

The concept of good governance at the local level signifies participation of citizens, quality, effectiveness and efficiency of local administration and public service delivery Local governance includes not only the institutions and systems of government but also other actors and their interactions with local government institutions. UNDP promotes a holistic approach to define the field of local governance and decentralisation by using the concept of decentralised governance for development.

More than sixty percent of the poor people live in the region. In spite of the impressive economic growth and transitions to elected governments in many countries, inequality and instances of poverty remain a stark reality. Conflicts, internal violence, and increasing instances of natural disasters make children, women, and elderly people particularly vulnerable. Social Protection was effectively used in many countries to manage risks and reduce vulnarableities

 An innovative example of integrating Local Governance, MDGs and Social Protection is the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in India which ensures hundred days of work to all men and women. And the project is used for developing local infrastructure, water conservation and food security. The right to work is implemented through institutions of local government and it involves also the participation of civil society organisations. While NREGA ensures Right to work, its primary outcome is the local infrastructure and human development. The projects are prioritised, based on the local need, by the local government institutions in consultations with the civil society and other actors. The social audit and provisions for Right to Information ensure transparency and accountability of local development projects.

Evidence of the positive impact of NREGA shows that inclusive participation of women, rural poor and local communities helped to promote local development.  The outcome of the projects helped to build schools; primary health centres, conserves water and promoted food security.  The Increased income for women and the investment in agriculture increased gender empowerment and food security. All these changed the development landscape the local level, contributing to the achievement of MDG

The health Insurance programme introduced in Thailand, and the special assistance programme for the elderly and disabled in Vietnam are other innovative examples of social protection programmes in Asia-Pacific.  Many of the innovative approach to social protection programmes emerged during the disaster risk reduction strategies that emerged in the past Tsunami phase in the region.

Hence an integrated approach that involves social protection, local development and democratic local governance can help to accelerate the MDGs.

2)      Local Governance and Climate Change

Asia-Pacific Region has been at the receiving end of climate-change induced food insecurity as well as conflict.  The increasing instances of drought and flood affected agricultural in a significant way in South Asia and parts of South Asia. For example, the climate change induced drought or flood adversely affected the food security in Bangladesh, Cambodia and parts of Nepal. The destruction of crops in different parts of Asia, particularly in Myanmar and Vietnam in the wake of cyclones, adversely affected the food security of the entire region, resulting in high rise of food prices.

The evidences from all countries affected by severe food- insecurity showed a significant rural- urban migration, trafficking of women and children and criminalisation and violence. The destruction of food crops due to climate change induced drought often lead to competing demands for water and food. And the existing inequalities in the society increase the chances for conflicts.  Such pattern was evident in Bangladesh, parts of Nepal and Ache in Indonesia.

One of the best early warning systems is the effective presence of local governance. And effective local governance system can help to identify early warning, identifying the problems and the most effective ways to address the problem in the local context. Hence Local governance institutions can play a very important role in identify the climate induced changes and its impact on agriculture early enough for the government to adopt timely risk reduction strategies.  Spaces for inclusive participation, capacity of local institutions, and responsiveness help to effectively pick the early warning signals, and adopt efficient service delivery mechanism and conflict prevention strategies.

This has implications for the work of UNDP. The first implication is the need for much more coordinated effort between the democratic governance team, crisis prevention and recovery team and  the poverty team at the sub national, national and regional level. This also means developing strategic approach that would integrate Local governance; crisis prevention and MDG acceleration approach by helping to build the capacity of various stakeholders to ensure Responsive Institutions, Inclusive Participation and Human Rights based approach to human development.