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Yemen

Local Development

PROGRAMME PROFILE
Project/Programme Title Decentralization and Local Development Support Programme (DLDSP)
Status & Cycle Ongoing, 2004-2008
Total Costs/Funding (US$ m) Funding sources JOINT PROJECT RESOURCES PARALLEL
UNCDF BU UNDP BU TOTAL
UNCDF 2 594 200   2 594 200  
UNDP   5 310 082 5 310 082  
SFD     3 550 000  
USAID   3 213 100 3 213 100  
DANIDA 831 000   831 000  
France   422 095 422 095  
Italy   362 757 362 757  
TOTAL 3 425 200 9 308 034 16 283 234  
Context, Strategy & Opportunities

  • The Decentralization and Local Development Support Program (DLDSP) assists the GOY on defining and implementing decentralization reforms with the objective of enhancing the effectiveness of local government to promote local development and alleviate poverty.

  • The DLDSP was initiated in 2003 by UNDP-Yemen with the technical support and guidance of UNCDF .It is executed by the Ministry of Local Administration (MOLA).

  • The program's initial focus (2003-2004), was on 6 pilot districts in 2 governorates where enhanced procedures for Public Expenditure Management (PEM) were introduced.

  • During its second phase (2005-2007), the DLDSP expanded its scope of activities both geographically and substantively. By the end of 2005, the program expanded to 28 districts in 6 governorates and then to 48 districts in 8 governorates by the end of 2006.

  • Substantively, the program deepened its understanding of decentralization policy , local authority institutional structures and systems , as well as the administrative and service delivery capacities. Lessons learned were used to inform the formulation of the National Decentralization Strategy (NDS) and the design of the National Program (NP) for its implementation .

  • The number of donors supporting the program, has reached 9 by the end of 2006 with ongoing negotiations with others to join during 2007. The current annual program budget has reached $4.5 Million and it is expected to increase significantly as the program expands in 2008.

Government Execution Partners
  • The Ministry of Local Administration

  • The Inter-Ministerial Committee for Supporting Decentralization

  • 8 Governorates and 48 District Local Authorities

Local Area & Coverage
  • 48 Districts (of 333) in 8 Governorates (of 22) covering 3.83 Million inhabitants out of a total of 20 Million.

Reviews & Evaluations

N/A

Main Challenges
  • Adopting the National Decentralization Strategy and approving the National Program.

  • Aligning the institutional structure and capacities of the MOLA to implement the National Program.

  • Securing the support of the Ministry of Finance to reform fiscal decentralization policies.

  • Securing the support of the Ministry of Civil Service to reform local-level HR development policies.

  • Sealing the agreement between MOLA and the various sector ministries on sector decentralization modalities and functional assignments for each level of governance.

  • Aligning donor sector interventions with the local authority system to implement decentralized service delivery

  • Securing donor commitment to co-finance the capacity development and investment components of the National program beginning in 2008.

Main Policy Impact & Other Achievements to Date
  • An operating system, procedures and manuals at the District level (and for the Governorate this year with a focus on strategic planning) for basic administrative functions and for Public Expenditure management

  • An Institutional Development Strategy for MOLA and an action plan for its implementation to be launched this year.

  • A District level MIS tracking development outcomes and recording service coverage rates and local revenues and expenditures

  • A comprehensive analysis of the LA system covering policy and legal framework, institutional structures and systems, functional assignments and fiscal decentralization policies

  • A National Decentralization Strategy setting the foundation for an integrated National Programme

  • The beginnings of a SWAP for local development in which donor interventions are aligned in support of the LA system,

Key Next Steps
  • Finalize the adoption of the National Strategy

  • Develop (detailed design) the integrated National Programme

  • Continue piloting the SWAP for Local Development and mainstream it under the National Programme once launched

  • Implement the MOLA ID strategy

  • Secure donor support for the implementation of the National Programme

UNCDF Contacts for Yemen

Mr. Mazen Gharzeddine
Local Development Portfolio Specialist
mazen.gharzeddine@uncdf.org

Mr. Aladeen Shawa
Local Economic Development Technical Advisor
aladeen.shawa@uncdf.org

Last Updated: Feb. 4, 2009

UNCDF in Yemen
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