Options%20to%20Overcome%20Challenges

1
Options to Overcome Challenges

• Workshop on Decentralizing Civil Servants
• Wednesday, 9 June 2004

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

3
Functions that tend to be devolved early
(intermediate decentralizers)
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

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

4
Functions that only the strong decentralizers
have devolved
More Important Functions Less Important Functions
Controlling staff nos in local offices facilities Authority to dismiss surplus staff Ability to discipline/fire Setting local hardship/ remote allowances Authority to hire

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

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?

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

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)