Options to Overcome Challenges

Workshop on Decentralizing Civil ServantsWednesday, 9 June 2004

Slide 2

What are the challenges? Determining the ‘right’ degree of decentralization,

and therefore what is appropriate in terms of administrative decentralization

Identifying the functions to devolve that are ‘doable’ or relatively easy, and offer the greatest impact

Balancing the need to devolve authority for staff to LGs with the need to preserve career opportunities for those transferred

Pushing ahead with concurrent civil service reforms at the center

Slide 3

More Important Functions Less Important Functions Promotion Directing & supervising

activities & tasks Conducting evaluations Controlling overall staff

numbers Transfers within LGs

Paying staff from its own budget

Recognition as the formal employer

Functions that tend to be devolved early (intermediate decentralizers)

These functions are arguably easier to do; while important, significant intervention may not be necessary for these to happen

Slide 4

More Important Functions Less Important Functions Controlling staff no’s in local

offices & facilities Authority to dismiss surplus

staff Ability to discipline/fire Setting local hardship/

remote allowances

Authority to hire

Functions that only the strong decentralizers have devolved

Conclusion is that these four functions require the most attention and effort to achieve effective administrative decentralization

Slide 5

Challenge of horizontal mobility Perhaps most institutionally challenging issue In the cases, was a consistent concern of staff who

had been decentralized But it is also central to ability to attract & retain

staff, especially at senior levels The cases offered no clear empirical evidence for

ways to address this satisfactorily Possible options may include:

Standardized job descriptions, salary levels Regional level civil service commissions LG civil service cadres Other?

Slide 6

Where does civil service reform fit? In many cases, concurrent efforts at civil

service reform at the center are trying to address: recruitment, career management, performance management

(Similarly, fiscal reforms may lead to greater financial flexibility)

The needs of decentralization may well speed up civil service reforms, but it is unrealistic to expect decentralized authority to outpace CS reforms at the center

Slide 7

Transitional issues & tools from the cases Rapid assessment appraisals (Philippines,

Indonesia) Coordinating committees (Mexico, Philippines) Local government associations (Philippines) Recognition of excellence awards (Philippines) Transitional provisions, such as temporary

extension of payroll management (Philippines)