Programme Overview
Democracy requires popular and active participation of citizens in governance which includes policy reforms. The existing socio-economic situation has alienated a number of people, who are primarily preoccupied with the search for the means to survive rather than participation in their governance. Equally, lack of political awareness especially in rural areas has greatly undermined the capacity of ordinary citizens to actively participate in different governance processes. There is also a growing concern that subsequent MMD governments have not fully created policy and physical space for other key actors to contribute to the governance agenda.
Further, local governance provides a platform for local participation and delivery of public services. In this regard, government has since 2000 embarked on the decentralisation process which is aimed at strengthening the local structures. However, it is important to mention that the implementation of the National Decentralisation Policy has been slow although there are some responsibilities that have been decentralised to selected Government Departments at local level. The challenge however is that decentralisation has not been accompanied with financial and technical resources, making it difficult for the provision of social services at the local level where responsibilities have been given.
The Democracy and Local Governance Sub Programme is involved in lobbying government to facilitate the participation stakeholders in the democratic dispensation of the country. Other activities include sensitising and educating people on election issues, training election monitors and participating in the forthcoming general 2011 elections.
The programme also engages policy and decision makers and local/traditional leaders on the decentralisation policy and process in general. The following are the operational objectives:
Operational Objective 1:
To strengthen community participation in local and national governance in at least five Dioceses by the end of 2011.
Operational Objective 2:
To promote parliamentary reforms that increase citizens’ engagement with Parliament in five Dioceses by 2011.
