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Careful decentralization of
power over environment promotes democracy, development in Africa
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA, March 26,
2001 -- The World Resources Institute (WRI) today urged African
countries to strategically decentralize control over their natural
resources as a means of strengthening democracy and protecting the
environment. "Decentralization in Africa is very promising
but as it is currently implemented, it will not encourage
democracy, or deliver greater efficiency, equity and environmental
protection," warned Dr. Jesse Ribot of the World Resources
Institute (WRI). The WRI researcher was in Capetown today
addressing a United Nations meeting on decentralizing local
governance in Africa.
Development agencies,
non-governmental organizations, and governments in Africa are
promoting greater participation by local people in the use,
maintenance and restoration of their natural resources. Already,
some African countries are decentralizing or transferring
environmental management responsibilities and powers from the
central government to local bodies.
"Unfortunately, in many
African countries, decentralization merely means the transfer of
powers to centrally controlled, non-democratic, unaccountable
local institutions," said Dr. Ribot. These local groups
include traditional chiefs, religious orders, non-governmental
organizations or business groups.
He cited cases in Mali and Uganda
wherein many forests, which were previously in the public domain,
are being privatized in the name of decentralization. Cases also
exist in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Guinea, Malawi and Zimbabwe where
only local power elites - not the general population - have
benefited.
Tundu Lissu, staff attorney of
Lawyers' Environmental Action Team (LEAT) in Tanzania agrees with
this assessment. He said that in most cases, the centralized state
- characterized by authoritarianism and the lack of political
space for popular democracy - has been replicated at the local
levels. "The result has been called decentralized despotism
-- an even more oppressive and unaccountable local governance
structure at the local level."
Lissu adds that careful
decentralization is crucial since whoever controls local
decision-making ultimately controls local resources, which is the
key to rural development in Africa.
"Decentralizing powers over
natural resources without ensuring that local groups are
accountable to the community at large or represent the general
population is dangerous," said Dr. Ribot. "Giving public
powers to un-democratic authorities slows down democratic
transitions."
WRI's Dr. Ribot recommends the
following:
- Establishment of democratic
local governments to ensure greater public participation in
local decisions concerning natural resources. For example,
Mali and Senegal changed their laws to allow independent
candidates in local elections, helping to make local
governments more accountable.
- Encourage transparency and
accountability of all local authorities who are engaged in the
management of local resources. This has also been recommended
by Alois Mandondo of the University of Zimbabwe's Institute of
Environmental Studies.
- Transfer to accountable local
authorities significant powers over public natural resources
and powers of value to local people.
- Make certain that the legal
instruments used to establish local accountability and to
transfer powers are secure so that transfers are made as
rights rather than as privileges to be given and taken back by
central authorities.
"Decentralization of control over
local natural resources has only began in Africa," said Dr.
Ribot. "This is the right path but one that should be tread
carefully."
For more information, contact:
Adlai Amor, WRI,
Washington, DC, (202) 729-7736, aamor@wri.org
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