Stakeholders started Thursday a three-day roundtable discussion on the status of decentralization and intergovernmental linkages in South Sudan.
States’ ministers of local government, MPs, Council of States members, Local Government Board and the presidency began scrutinizing the current status of the decentralization system to recommend ways forward.Presidential Advisor at the Decentralization and Intergovernmental Linkages, Tor Deng Mawien, said in his opening remarks that the participants should discuss appropriate ways to make decentralization work.
He said the roundtable meeting came at the right time to bring all the stakeholders to discuss the decentralization in general and concentrate ways at county level because these are areas close to the people.
Mr Deng said the national Government puts much important at the counties to ensure services are delivered as key mandate of the local government.
He added the roundtable meeting should study decentralization thoroughly and come up with recommendations.
Mr Deng added that there is need for a body that can coordinate and supervise the decentralization system in South Sudan.
George Conway, Acting UNDP Country Resident, said a centralised government administration alone cannot achieve development.
He said political, administrative and fiscal decentralization are crucial to ensure services reach people in harmony between government priorities and communities’ needs for development.
The roundtable meeting examines the status of decentralization in South Sudan, policy and regulatory frameworks and mandates for its implementation.