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Afghanistan

Revise law on local government (AF0015)

Overview

At-a-Glance

Action Plan: Afghanistan Action Plan 2019-2021

Action Plan Cycle: 2019

Status: Active

Institutions

Lead Institution: Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG)

Support Institution(s): Ministry of Justice, Legislative committee of the cabinet, cabinet office of the president, Relevant civil society institutions

Policy Areas

Legislation & Regulation, Public Participation, Subnational

IRM Review

IRM Report: Pending IRM Review

Starred: Pending IRM Review

Early Results: Pending IRM Review

Design i

Verifiable: Pending IRM Review

Relevant to OGP Values: Pending IRM Review

Potential Impact: Pending IRM Review

Implementation i

Completion: Pending IRM Review

Description

What is the public problem that the commitment will address?
As stated in the Roadmap on Local Governance Reforms of Afghanistan, the existing Local Governance Law dates back to the Taliban regime and is, therefore, not responsive to the contemporary governance approach in Afghanistan. This law is outdated in that i) it does not clearly define the responsibilities and authorities of the central and local administrations and the relations between the two, ii) it does not contain any mechanism to make the local administration accountable to the public and civil society organizations, and iii) the law has located the decision-making authority, including recruitments and budget allocation to the central administration. These shortcomings in the aforesaid law have fundamentally weakened the public service delivery at local level, shedding negative impact on implementation of development projects such as construction of schools, clinics, and power dams among others.

What is the commitment?
The Local Governance Law will be revised in partnership with CSOs with an ultimate purpose to make sure the law allows for clear definition of responsibilities and authorities of the central and local administrations as well as extends adequate accountability and decision-making authority to the local governance, thereby improving the public service delivery at local level.

How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem?
Revision of local governance law in participation with civil society can accurately define responsibilities, authorities and relations between local authorities likewise relations between local authorities and central supremacies in accordance with contemporary needs of Afghanistan’s society. This eliminates disruptions in local governance and service delivery as well as leads to better service delivery to public, accountability and accelerates economic, social and cultural development in the country.

Why is this commitment relevant to OGP values?
This commitment ensures civic participation and makes local governments accountable in their purviews and responsibilities to public.

Additional information
This commitment is related to Roadmap for subnational reform citizen-centered governance and Local governance reform.

Commitments

  1. Revise law on recruitment and authority of attorneys general

    AF0014, 2019, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  2. Revise law on local government

    AF0015, 2019, Legislation & Regulation

  3. Establish anti-corruption commitment

    AF0016, 2019, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  4. Draft beneficial ownership legislation

    AF0017, 2019, Beneficial Ownership

  5. Portal for processing legislative documents

    AF0018, 2019, Capacity Building

  6. CSO monitoring of education

    AF0019, 2019, E-Government

  7. Develop electronic complaint system for local government

    AF0020, 2019, Capacity Building

  8. Reform and strengthen education data

    AF0021, 2019, E-Government

  9. Participation in local budgeting

    AF0022, 2019, Participation in Budget Processes

  10. Electronic revenue collection system

    AF0023, 2019, Capacity Building

  11. Co-create university curriculum

    AF0024, 2019, Education

  12. Reform promotion system for police officers

    AF0025, 2019, E-Government

  13. Monitoring framework for medicine wholesalers

    AF0026, 2019, E-Government

  14. Monitoring of private and public health centers

    AF0027, 2019, E-Government

  15. Participation in national budget

    AF0028, 2019, Participation in Budget Processes

  16. Open justice for anti-corruption

    AF0029, 2019, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  17. Women's empowerment plan

    AF0030, 2019, Gender

  18. Establishment of Women Grand Council

    AF0031, 2019, Gender

  19. Mechanism of Public Partnership in Inspection Process

    AF0001, 2017, Capacity Building

  20. Law on Processing, Publishing and Enforcing Legislative Documents

    AF0002, 2017, Legislation & Regulation

  21. Courts to Address Violence Against Women

    AF0003, 2017, Gender

  22. Public-Police Partnership Councils

    AF0004, 2017, Capacity Building

  23. Registering Assets of Government Officials

    AF0005, 2017, Asset Disclosure

  24. Scheme for Establishing Health Service Accreditation Entity

    AF0006, 2017, Capacity Building

  25. Urban Improvement National Policy

    AF0007, 2017, Infrastructure & Transport

  26. Protection Policy for Women Under Conflict and Emergency Situations

    AF0008, 2017, Gender

  27. Civil Society Monitoring Plan for Education and Higher Education

    AF0009, 2017, Education

  28. Plan for the Establishment of a Joint Committee Overseeing the Implementation of the Anti-Corruption Strategy

    AF0010, 2017, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  29. Strengthen the Information Mechanism in 60 Governmental Agencies

    AF0011, 2017, Capacity Building

  30. Implementing Open Contracting

    AF0012, 2017, E-Government

  31. Public Participation in Road Network Projects

    AF0013, 2017, Infrastructure & Transport