Full report LR.pdf - DLIST Benguela

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NACOMA Project – Preparation PhaseAnalysis of the Institutional Capacity in the Namib Coast Regional Councilsstakeholders, limited institutional support and backing (for Regional Councils) from lineministries, and unclear roles and functions of line ministries and Regional Councils, inparticular with respect to delegated functions. The Decentralisation Implementation Planis an overall management and implementation tool. However, it needs to be translatedinto action oriented programmes to be understood and utilised by the relevantstakeholders. Currently, the MRLGH, in co-operation with the line ministries, are dealingwith this task. Once such programmes are finalised, regional councils and line ministrieswill engage in meetings to iron-out transfers-related issues – under the auspices of, anddirection by, the MRLGH.The gradual transfer of authority and responsibilities from central government to regionaland local authorities needs to correlate positively with increased human, financial andmaterial resources – to ensure that the delegated functions are administered in aneffective and efficient manner. The recent filling of management structures in RegionalCouncils is a major step towards consolidating capacity – as it will provide the platformon which the required consultations and negotiations could effectively take place.3.5.2 Relevance to the NACOMA ProjectIt has already been said that deficiency in planning skills (and perhaps also a failure bysome to understand the intrinsic value of planning as a tool for good governance) isweakening the Regional Councils and therefore the decentralisation process itself.Three broad observations regarding decentralisation that relate to NACOMA are:3.5.2.1 The current planning machinery that guides the decentralisation process does notcater for environmental planning and management per se. The effective integration ofenvironmental concerns into the planning machinery of the MRLGH, both at the regionalas well as national level is likely to yield positive results in terms of sustainableutilisation of the coastal areas.3.5.2.2 Biodiversity conservation, environmental planning and management tend toinvolve many sectors by their very nature and thus would require input from a range ofparties, and of course the Regional Councils themselves. The way line ministries andRegional Councils are presently set up is not conducive to such coordination. Theseinstitutions <strong>report</strong> to different structures, are in different buildings and it is unclear howthey relate to one another. Unfortunately there is also little coordination at the nationallevel, for instance between MET and MRLGH in terms of what their respective dutiesand roles are when it comes to <strong>report</strong>ing. Improved co-ordination of developmentplanning policies and activities at the national level will certainly enhance regionaldevelopment planning, and may lead to more integration at the level of RegionalDevelopment Plans. For instance, MET could devise ways to infuse environmentalrelatedplanning and management into Regional Development Planning - with the fullcooperation and participation of the MRLGH of course. In this regard, the activeengagement of the Directorate Decentralisation Co-ordination could pave the way.15
NACOMA Project – Preparation PhaseAnalysis of the Institutional Capacity in the Namib Coast Regional Councils3.5.2.3 The MET line ministry action plans, which clearly set out functions, portfoliosand related resources transfer modalities, have not been submitted to the MRLGH.Needless to mention, this passive responses could only delay the process further.4. REGIONAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTAs stated elsewhere, regional development planning is one of the core functions ofRegional Councils – as conferred by the Act.4.1 PLANNING FRAMEWORKIn Namibia, the development planning system is spearheaded by central government andregional and local authorities to ensure that effective co-ordination is developed andmaintained. The regional development planning process is also meant to be participativewith operational mechanisms ensuring participation by society takes place. However,during the country’s first National Development Plan (NDP), overall developmentplanning was primarily confined to the national and sector levels only – with varyingdegrees of consultations at regional levels. In line with the Decentralisation Policy, theGovernment extended this cardinal function to the regional level during the second NDPperiod. Since all national development plans are confined to a five-year implementationperiod, a longer term planning tool was required. In response, the government introducedVision 2030 11 , which aims to guide these relatively short-term development plans(starting with NDP2 up to NDP7) until 2030.The Regional Planning and Development Policy, which was approved by Cabinet in1997, seeks to establish a coherent regional planning framework for the decentralisationprocess to facilitate improved co-ordination between regional development institutionsand to avail the required resources for the attainment of regional gaols. It therefore goeswithout saying that the policy provides the platform for the decentralisation transitionprocess aimed at establishing enhanced planning, management and operational capacitiesat regional and local authorities.4.2 ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNINGToday, it is well-accepted that environmental concerns should be an integral part ofplanning. This is particularly true for Namibia because “much of its economy and most ofits people depend directly on the natural resource base and diverse ecosystems.” 12 Coastalareas tend to be places of concentrated economic activity and rapid development andNamibia is no exception. Increasing economic activities – in the spheres of mining,tourism, fishing, and to a lesser extent, agriculture – mean growing threats to theecologically sensitive coastal areas of Namibia, unless proper integrated developmentplanning is put in place swiftly. Furthermore, the Namib coastline, like other coastal areas11 Vision 2030 serves as the country’s strategic national development plan/ framework.12 Barnard P., 2001. Biodiversity and Development in Namibia: Namibia’s Ten-Year Strategic Plan ofAction for Sustainable Development through Biodiversity Conservation (2001-2010).16
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