Presentation By

Joel MadzivanyikaUrban Management Specialist

GOOD URBAN GOVERNANCE

Leaning objectives of the Module

This module seeks to; Define local governance and give the

characteristics of good local governance; Raise awareness of the effects of corruption

with regard to service delivery; Examine issues that affect development of

local integrity systems; Cultivating a culture of accountability,

transparency, customer care in seeking to deliver services efficiently and effectively;

Give examples of corrupt practices; Curbing corruption through building codes of

conduct for councillors and officials; How to involve the community in council

processes in order to instill a sense of ownership by them for all council activities.

Defining Urban Good Governance

In this module governance is defined as the exercise of political, economic and administrative authority to manage Council affairs. It is the complex mechanisms, processes, relationships and institutions through which citizens and groups articulate their interests, exercise their rights and obligations and mediate their differences.

  Urban Good Governance is therefore a subset of governance, wherein public resources and problems are managed effectively, efficiently and in response to critical needs of society. Effective democratic forms of governance rely on public participation, accountability and transparency.

Characteristics of Urban Good Governance

• Participatory• Sustainable • Legitimate and acceptable to the people • Transparent• Promotes equity and equality• Able to develop the resources and methods of

governance• Promotes gender balance• Tolerates and accepts diverse perspectives • Able to mobilise resources for social purposes.• Operates by rule of law.• Efficient and effective in the use of resources.• Engenders and commands respect and trust

accountable.• Able to define and take ownership of local

solutions.• Enabling and facilitative.• Regulatory rather than controlling.• Service oriented.

Accountability Webster ‘s new collegiate Dictionary defines

accountability as the quality or state of being accountable or answerable. One who is accountable is ready to give information to all those that require it. He is responsible for his actions, failures and successes. Why is Public Accountability important?

Local government services the people directly, immediately, daily and personally.

It is the part of government that citizens can best understand and appreciate, to which they can most easily communicate their grievances, from which they are most able to achieve responsiveness, and against which they can most effectively retaliate when they are dissatisfied.

It is the cornerstone of their democracy, the base from which their political principles have been derived and from which they will continue to evolve.

It is the ultimate manifestation of government by the people.

Transparency• In simple terms, transparency is being open in terms of contact of business.

• Transparency and accountability cannot be separated because if one is transparent or open in terms of his/her conduct he/she is also accountable. One cannot be accountable if he/she is not transparent. Why is Transparency Important in Urban Good Governance?

• To build trust and confidence by the public.• To avoid unnecessary criticisms by the public.

• To be accountable to the public.

Corruption and its causes

• In this module corruption means the misuse of power for private profit. It is the impairment of integrity, virtue or moral principle. In simple terms it is a departure from what is pure or correct.Causes of Corruption

• Inadequate resources.• Disregard for conflict of interest rates.• Weak local integrity systems• Non compliance with rules and regulations• Lack of transparency• Job insecurity• Obscured systems and operational procedures• Unnecessary restrictions• Weak control systems

Consequences of Corruption• Reduces the overall development if the local

authority as scarce resources are wasted.• Poor quality services.• Reduces trust by the public • Reduces public accountability• Increases conflicts with the public as services

are not delivered efficiently and solved promptly.

• Undermines the local authority, s legitimacy.• Systematic corruption generates

– Economic costs by distorting incentives– Political costs by undermining institutions and power toward the

undeserving.– Social costs by redistributing wealth and power toward the

undeserving.• It creates inefficiency such as discouraging

investment in the local economy and infrastructure

Pillars of Local Government Integrity

• Mayor/Chairman• Council• Council Officials• Tender Board• Local Professional groups• Local authority associations e.g. UCAZ• Media• Local Professional groups • Local Civil society• Local Politicians• Rate payers and Neighbourhood Associations• Local NGOs, Civil Society• Financial Managers and Auditors

Tackling Corruption in Local Authorities

• Create political will to fight corruption • Involve all the people in diagnosing corrupt systems

in Council e.g (S.D.S) service delivery surveys.• Focus on prevention by repairing corrupt systems.• The secret to successful prevention of corruption

lies in making changes in policies and systems, rather than calling for a moral renovation or hunting for isolated culprits. Instead of thinking of corruption in terms of an individual breaking the law and violating a trust, one should think about systems that are more or less susceptible to various illicit activities.

• Corruption tends to be reduced by separation of power, checks and balances, transparency, a good justice system and clearly defined roles, rules, responsibilities and limits.

• Corruption tends not to thrive where there is a democratic culture, competition and good system of control and where people have rights to information and rights of redress.

Client Care• Client Care is giving respect to all stakeholders

in terms of communication and service delivery.Why Good Client Care?• To have good image of the organisation.• To motivate clients and enable them to participate in

development activities.• Attract investors and increase economic productivity. Characteristics of Good Client Care• Services are easily accessible.• Services are of high quality.• People don’t wait long to be served.• Working environment is always clean and attractive.• The organisation always tries to meet client

expectations.• The organisation listens to concerns of client.• The organisation provides feedback to clients.• Important information about the organisation is

always provided to the client.

Conclusion• The campaign for good urban governance should aim to realise the ‘inclusive city’ through better urban governance. Inclusiveness is as much a process as a goal, and participatory decision-making is a primary means by which the inclusive city can become a reality. This will be achieved through normative debate, advocacy and capacity building, implemented through partnerships with important stakeholders.

Exercises on Good Urban Governance

Exercise 1• In your own opinion what do you understand by the term ‘GOOD URBAN GOVERNANCE?

• Give six characteristics of good urban governance.

• What is Public Accountability?

• What are the importance of Public Accountability?

Exercise 2• What is corruption?• What are the causes of corruption in urban local authorities?

• Suggest four ways of curbing corruption in any urban local authority.

• Give four reasons why it is important to fight corruption in your local authority.