Democratic Governance

Overall Objective: to strengthen the capacity of local governments to plan and facilitate the implementation of the poverty reduction plan

Specific Objective

Specific Action

to provide local authorities with the financial authority and resources needed to take an active role in implementing the ZPRP

	strengthen government capacity to mobilise resources to perform its key role of promoting economic development and poverty reduction
	promote decentralisation and the empowerment of local governments and communities and thus facilitate the mobilisation of human, financial and material resources to effectively carry out community-based programmes
	create a system where government officials can be held accountable for their actions during the ZPRP period. This will require an effective Monitoring and Evaluation system for the ZPRP
	design measures to involve civil society organisations (such as community based organisations (CBO) and co-operatives) in improving living standards
	encourage civil society organisations to develop practices and procedures which put effective checks on executive and administrative powers as well as ensuring high standards of integrity among their members
	promote broad-based, grass-roots participation in order to build on the reserves of knowledge and experience and unleash creativity and initiative at that foundation level
	review laws governing business activities so as to make them simpler and more transparent and effective
	develop and implement effective and transparent measures which allow equal opportunities to all groups in society in both Unguja and Pemba
	establish a high profile system of rewards to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of society

The current political regime will implement the ZPRP and will build an institutional framework for it. This framework will:

	mobilize people’s existing and new abilities for coordinated action and for commitment to social, political and economic development
	mobilize people’s diligence, stimulate their creativity, galvanize diverse efforts and recognize and reward good performance
	harness the power of the market in allocating resources consistent with the plan
	strike an appropriate leadership balance between the state and other institutions (eg households, civic organisations, business enterprises)
	empower local poverty groups to participate effectively in their own development

Indicators of having met this enormous challenge, and thus having put a system of good governance in place, will include:

	popular participation in the decision-making process based on political and social inclusion
	accountability based on the ideal of popular sovereignty and public choice
	a transparent, efficient and fair legal framework that guarantees the rule of law and the administration of justice
	cost-efficient and rational government size
	competent and efficient public agencies
	freedom of movement, association and expression

How can we prevent tax evasion, clove smuggling and the squandering of public funds from affecting the government’s ability to provide essential services and infrastructure?

The ZPRP calls for reforms to the public service and generally increased transparency and accountability in the government system. Effective implementation of these measures is important not only in their own right, but also as a signal to the citizens of Zanzibar, the political parties and other stakeholders that the ZPRP is a serious undertaking which is worthy of support.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) proposes support of $130,000.

Overall public service reform and capacity building is fundamental to the success of ZPRP and this will include developing:

	increased abilities in gathering, analysing and using statistics
	increased abilities in budgeting, planning and evaluation
	better accounting systems which enable increased accountability and transparency
	more effective and efficient revenue (tax) collection bodies

[See Note 2 for more details}