MINALOC - Mifotra

MINALOC, Functional Review draft, 31 March 2008
system for ten months. Each member of staff has their own laptop. At the decentralised level,
MINALOC uses the networks of Rwandatel and Artel. These two companies do not cover all
decentralised structures. The budget ceiling of one hundred thousand francs (100,000RWF) allocated for
spending on telephone communications per unit is not sufficient. This amount was fixed by the Cabinet
meeting.
MINALOC envisages the implementation of the use of Skype for certain communication options and to
transmit data. The mobile phone has already become an indispensable tool in the accomplishment of
tasks. Its professional use in verbal communication and by SMS has reached a considerable level. In fact,
for any problem that arises at decentralised institution level, famine, flooding, the recent earthquakes,
refugees etc.. MINALOC is immediately contactable via mobile phone.
The general feeling is that computerised databases aren’t used enough for the management of information
and for evaluation. The protection of the computer system against non-authorised users and viruses and
other damage is not up to date. This problem could be resolved more broadly across government
institutions to guarantee the alignment of data, archiving and the efficiency of communication systems.
The appropriate use of shared units, protected by intranet passwords with a hierarchy of access rights for
users and the system of electronic depository across government could significantly simplify evaluation
and the establishment of reports as well as facilitating interministerial and interdistrict coordination with
regard to planning, budgeting, saving and sharing of minutes of meetings and records of decisions made.
A.4.5. Links with decentralised bodies and outsourced services
Coordination: Very dynamic coordination structures have been established on a national scale to tackle
the multiplication of approaches and interventions in the decentralisation domain.
The group of decentralisation partners (Decentralisation Cluster) meets every two months. This group
includes technical representatives of the Directors who are responsible for planning within the various
Ministries and Provinces, development partners, civil society representatives as well as CDF and RALGA
as representatives of Local Government.
There is also the Local Government Consultative Forum (LGCF) 23 which is held twice per year. Its
members include Directors with responsibility for planning within Ministries, Provinces and Local
Government.
At the head there is the National Decentralisation Stakeholders Forum(NDSF) 24 which is held once a
year. The NDSF is chaired by the MINALOC Minister and represents a platform for a wide range of
stakeholders to review and ensure dialogue is permanently maintained on implementation of the national
decentralisation policy. Development partners contributing to DIP implementation are associate members
of the NDSF.
Although these different coordination structures meet at different intervals (six times, twice and once per
year) as well as apparently different members, they require a better definition of mandates and their work
tools. For some, the composition of members appears identical at certain levels and their functions are
not well enough differentiated. Some proposals are for a reduction in the number of structures to avoid
redundancy and complexity in the process of coordination.
23 In French, Forum Consultatif des Gouvernements Locaux (FCGL)
24 In French, Forum National des Partenaires de la Décentralisation (NDSF)
46