(17 August 2010 – Torit) Commissioners’ Forums are bringing together top officials at state-level to review the challenges facing local governments in Southern Sudan ahead of the upcoming referendum in January 2011. So far, events have taken place in all three of the Equatoria states, with the most recent one – held in Torit – coming to an end last week.
This initiative is being led by the Government of Southern Sudan’s (GoSS) Local Government Board and state-level ministries of Local Government and Law Enforcement, with technical and financial assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The UN Mission in Sudan’s Civil Affairs Section and the National Democratic Institute have also been very supportive.
The main purpose of these Forums, to be held in remaining states over the coming weeks, is to institutionalize a legitimate venue for officials (including traditional authorities) to discuss counties-specific issues and work on plausible solutions that can be implemented by local people through local resources. With this in mind, one of the main topics of discussion, up to now, has centered on how to enhance the predictability and transparency of GoSS-to-state fiscal transfers as well as donor funds. Key areas of concern include a lack of infrastructure and basic services, and multiples capacity gaps.
Since interventions at the county-level are often fragmented and uncoordinated, it is also hoped that these high-level Forums will result in an increased understanding of the roles and responsibilities of various organizations and actors.
To date, each Forum has been held under the stewardship of a relevant state Governor and has ended with a set of recommendations such as the need to implement the Local Government Act and the decentralization process fully. Other issues related to planning and budgeting have also featured. All events have reiterated the need to ensure that the forthcoming referendum happens on schedule, with relevant preparations in place.
County Commissioners have also pledged to improve transparency in the collection and use of revenues and to do all they can to facilitate the upcoming referendum through work on voter registration and awareness-raising. Traditional Chiefs will play a major role in educating the people about their rights and responsibilities with regards the referendum.
At the Central Equatoria event, H.E. Governor Clement Wani, said that GoSS must keep its promise to “transform rural areas into proper habitable areas for the people.” He also underlined the important position of traditional authorities in local government administration and maintenance of security.
In a statement, Joe Feeney, UNDP Southern Sudan’s Head of Office, reaffirmed “UNDP’s continued commitment to supporting the Government of Southern Sudan in strengthening core administrative capacity at all tiers of government.” Referring to Commissioners as “driving forces for restoring local administrating systems close to the people,” Hon. David Koak Guok, the Local Government Board’s Acting Chairman, voiced hie continuing support to local governments working with UNDP and other partners.
These events will culminate in a Governors Forum to be held later this year, which will bring together all 10 Governors from across Southern Sudan. This Forum, which is now in its eighth year, is of paramount importance for the peaceful and credible conduct of the referendum – a decisive milestone in the implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
For further information, please contact: Carolina Kern, Communications and Policy Specialist, United Nations Development Programme, Southern Sudan: carolina.kern@undp.org / Cell: +249 90 4215 718.
Notes to the editor
1. If you are interesting in any of the forthcoming Commissioners’ Forum events, contact Carolina Kern using details above. The next one is scheduled to take place in Western Bahr al Ghazal (24 – 26 August).
2. UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.