Choosing Representation: I Institutions and Powers for i i d P - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Choosing Representation: I i i d P f Institutions and Powers for Decentralized Natural Resource Decentralized Natural Resource Management g

Jesse C Ribot Jesse C. Ribot Institutions and Governance Program World Resources Institute

Today’s Talk

Program: Decentralization and Environment

Comparative Research Program

Analytic Framework: Actors, Powers and

Accountability Research Framework Fi di D t li ti i P ti

Findings: Decentralization in Practice

What is happening in the name of decentralization? Why? Why? Focus on Implementation rather than Outcomes

Recommendations: Options and Opportunities

Defining Decentralization Defining Decentralization =

A transfer of powers from central A transfer of powers from central

government to lower levels IN a political administrative territorial hierarchy administrative territorial hierarchy.

Central Government

Ministries:

Donors

Defining Decentralization

Ministries:

• Health
• Environment
• Education….

Big NGOs Power Transfers

Decentralization

Non-market Privatization

Contracts & Grants

Individual or Democratic Local Government Administrative Local Authority Customary Authority NGO PVO CBO Corporation Participation Government 3rd Sector Government

Decentralization Not Decentralization

Participation

Decentralization Not Decentralization

Central Government

Ministries:

D

• Health
• Environment
• Education….

Donors Big NGOs

Accountability

? Co-Management Co-Management Democratic Local Government Administrative Local Authority Customary Authority NGO PVO CBO ? Participation Individual or Corporation ?

Local Populations

? ? Strong Weak

Committees

Questionable

p

Why Decentralize? Theoretical Mechanisms of Theoretical Mechanisms of Decentralization Benefit

Advertised Benefits

Enfranchisement, Equity, Efficiency, Development, Better Resource

Management, Better service delivery, Benefit retention…. Mechanisms Local Authorities are believed to:

Better match services to needs and aspirations (public choice theory) Reduce transaction costs (new institutional eco.) by proximity allowing: Reduce transaction costs (new institutional eco.) by proximity allowing:

Mobilizing local knowledge and skills for collective/public good Mobilizing local labor for collective projects Improved coordination among local programs

B l f ti d iti t i d i i ki

Balance of negative and positive outcomes in decision making

(economic theory of “internalizing externalities”) ALL ARGUMENTS IMPLY INCLUSIVE & INTEGRATIVE ALL ARGUMENTS IMPLY INCLUSIVE & INTEGRATIVE MECHANISM: I.e. Representation = Downwardly Accountable INSTITUTIONS *With* POWERS

Representation Policy Model

Representation = When authorities act in Representation

When authorities act in the best interest of the public [Pitkin; Manin, Przworski and Stokes] Przworski and Stokes] R t ti i th ti i di t

Representation is the active ingredient

making decentralized institutions effective [S k ] [Smoke]

REPRESENTATION

= Responsiveness &/or Accountability

Responsiveness Accountability

p y

Policies Outcomes M d t Preferences Mandates Sanctions Signals

Elements of Representation

Responsiveness = f(Powers/Capabilities Responsiveness f(Powers/Capabilities

[internal powers])

Accountability = f(Sanctions or

A t bilit Accountability mechanisms)

Actors Powers & Actors, Powers & Accountability Framework

Positive Outcomes are Expected from:

p

Local Actors (individuals or Institutions)

• ca

cto s ( d dua s o st tut o s)

With Powers (executive legislative and judicial: With Powers (executive, legislative and judicial:

discretion+capabilities to exercise them)

With Accountability to the Local Population

I l t ti Fi di Implementation Findings: What Happens in Practice? What Happens in Practice?

Choice of Institutions in Practice P Ch i i P ti Power Choices in Practice

Government Tactics for Government Tactics for Retaining Control g

Choice of Institutions Resisting Power Transfers Resisting Power Transfers

Getting the Institutions Right? g g

Decentralization theory is an IF-THEN proposition

y [out of new institutionalism]

If we have the right institutions with the right powers Then we get all these positive outcomes

But we’re not getting to ‘IF’ in most cases

New institutionalism is being stomped out by a larger set of political-economic forces [Sort of like “Bambi Meets Godzilla”]

New Institutionalism Meets Political Economy

CONCLUSIONS

What do we need to do?

Subsidiarity Principles Principles of Institutional Principles of Institutional Choice

Central Government

Ministries:

Ideal Accountability

• Health
• Environment
• Education….
• f Institutions

A t bilit Power Transfer Accountability

Democratic Local Government Administrative Local Authority Individual or Corporation Customary NGO/ PVO CBO Authority CBO Committees

L l P l ti Local Populations

THE END* THE END