Can Sustainability Really Be Achieved without ‘Government-led’ Development?
Denika Blacklock
Originally Published in Kanava Global Connection
http://www.kanavainternational.com/2015/04/can-sustainability-really-be-achieved-without-government-led-development/#.VTe2s_mUemM
Parallel Programming –
‘Speedier’ But At what Long-Term Cost?
You have most likely heard the
term ‘parallel programing’ – but do you know what it really means? It is the
process of implementing development programs outside (parallel to) the official
government process. It means that government, whether national or local, is not
the final decision maker and the program funds are not implemented through the
government financial management system. This often takes place due to weak
accountability and transparency mechanisms within the government (particularly
local government), and the potential for speedier implementation of development
activities and thus more immediate impact with targeted communities.
Long-Term Sustainability and
Scalability
However, these same
justifications for parallel programing are undermining the long-term
sustainability and scalability of development initiatives. Why? Because it is
government that is solely responsible for development in a country – government
will remain while development partners come and go. The reasons for not
implementing initiatives through a government system are the exact reasons why
we should be. How will the transparency and accountability of government
systems improve if development partners are not using those systems to
demonstrate how they can be improved? Allowing civil servants to build their
capacity within their own systems in a relevant context would allow capacities
as well as processes to improve. Improved government capacities and processes
also would mean speedier processes in the medium to long term. Governments
would gain experience, with the technical support of development partners, in
making decisions more quickly because they would have a better understanding of
why those decisions need to be made, and how to make and implement them.
Results and pilot initiatives could also be scaled up to have more impact and
reach more people in the long-term. Scalability really only happens when the
government plays a role.
Government-led Development to
Achieve An ‘Infinite Life Span’
Take for example local
economic development. Parallel projects generally release grants to communities
or NGOs to undertake economic development activities such as building markets,
investing in small businesses or training in a specific livelihoods sector.
Which is all fine and well – recipients see immediate results and impact - but
they lack the support of their local governments to ensure the enabling
environment, infrastructure and long-term financing opportunities are present.
In a parallel process, local governments are not in a position to help secure
sustainable results, as they lack the capital for continuous investments in
local economic development. They need support to plan and budget for local economic
development strategies, with financing for the implementation of these
strategies implemented through the local government financial management
system. Local government can guarantee loans by local banks to small business,
the repayment of which could then be used to finance further economic
initiatives. The growing number of sustainable businesses could mean increased
tax revenues to improve local infrastructure for the distribution of goods and
services, improving access to major commercial centers, etc. The point is that
funds for economic development that are channeled through the government system
have an infinite life span – investments have the potential to generate income
that can circle back through and create more investments, income and economic
growth.
Development Economy Lies
Outside Government
Funding for economic
development that is implemented outside of the government system does not
circle back for reinvestment and continuous future growth. The same goes for
education – schools built with funds sourced from outside of the government
system do not have long term sustainability because as the school is not a
legal government asset there is no legal basis to provide a budget for the
school’s operations and maintenance. The same goes for markets, health centers,
and youth centers.
Government-led Development –
Worth the Investment in Long-Term Sustainability
Working with and through
government may take longer, and may initially pose greater financial risks
given concerns about mismanagement, but it offers longer term impacts, and the
potential to reduce the risk of corruption and mismanagement over time. This
does not mean that NGOs don’t play an important role in development, through
advocacy and awareness, promoting civic engagement, etc. But if you are looking
for sustainability and scalability, investments in development initiatives will
be most effective and their results longer lasting when the government is in
the driver’s seat.
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