MINALOC - Mifotra

MINALOC, Functional Review draft, 31 March 2008
The lack of definition of vital functions of each sector is the main source of duplication which is apparent
between the state institutions.
The second source of duplication within MINALOC which impedes the operations of other institutions is
the mixture of several approaches in the definition of the Ministries. MINEDUC and MINISANTE were
created under a sector approach while MINALOC sees itself as having been given cross-cutting mandates:
local administration, good governance, community development and social affairs.
As an example, when a District plans its programmes relating to education or health, it will solicit the help
of MINALOC which is responsible for policies of local administration. But, MINALOC is also
responsible for social affairs which overlap with education and health even though there are sector
Ministries in charge of education and health.
On occasion MINALOC has built health centres without considering their subsequent need for
equipment. Following the construction of the health centre buildings, once the problem has been
identified, uncertainty has arisen as to which Ministerial department is responsible for the centre or simply
responsible for making funds available. All the Ministries denied responsibility and as a result some
practical solutions had to be found.
The recommendation is that before any Ministry or public institution is established, its precise functions
should be clearly identified. In a case where the functions are cross-cutting, formal mechanisms have to
be put in place to ensure collaboration. This is not currently the case.
Finally, the cross-cutting nature of MINALOC and the pursuit of several mandates have brought about
plans, processes, initiatives and a multitude of technical bodies and multiple meetings which overlap. The
result is the expansion of an already complex organism which gives out a sense of stress and confusion
both for the employees of MINALOC and Local Government.
A.4. ORGANISATION
A.4.1. Organisational Structure
The structure of MINALOC is now made up of the Office of the Minister and the Office of the Secretary
of State at the top and of the general secretariat composed of 6 principal units. But there are lots of other
satellite units which have been created through practical experience and donor funded projects. The 6
units are:
o Finance and Internal Resource Management Unit
o Good Governance and Territorial Administration Unit
o Community Development and Social Welfare Unit
o Finance and Taxation Decentralisation Unit
o ICT Unit
o Ad hoc (Attached to the SG)
The reform of 2004 had created only 3 units which do not relate to the traditional functions of the
Ministry. In summary they were: 1) Policy and planning, 2) Financial management and human resources
and 3) ICT. This reform had included statistics and planning in the unit which was called at the time
“Policy, Planning and Capacity Building”. As with all the other institutions, MINALOC applied this
reform for about one year. Already, from the first month of the reform, MINALOC entered negotiations
with the support of MINECOFIN to convince MIFOTRA and the Government that the reform could
not meet the operational requirements of the Ministry.
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