Background

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in January 2005 was a milestone event in the history of the Sudan, ending 22 years of civil war in the country and creating an opportunity to cultivate peace and development. The CPA recognizes the political and administrative autonomy of Southern Sudan in the interim context and keeps the self-determination option open for the south if required. The CPA and the Interim Constitution of Southern Sudan have made provision for a three-tiered system in the South, comprising the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS), States and Local Government. Within this framework, decentralization mechanisms for Southern Sudan have been built on five pillars: (i) devolution of power – administrative, management and fiscal – to the respective levels of government; (ii) affirmation to common norms and standards on governance that reflect the unity in diversity of Southern Sudan; (iii) welfare of people, protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms; (iv) participatory governance as an expression of unity; and (v) pursuit of good governance through democracy, separation of power, transparency, accountability and respect of rule of law.

In this context, the GoSS recognizes the challenges associated with implementing the CPA. It considers the institutionalization of democratic, accountable and participatory good governance at all levels as the most appropriate way to address the challenges and make a conscious move towards institutionalizing democratic good governance.

UNDP seeks to support this process through the strengthening of the institutional capacity of states to adequately plan, set priorities, manage revenue and expenditures and deliver basic services in an equitable manner. The results that are expected to be achieved towards the realization of this objective are: establishment of clear policy frameworks to support the states; establishment and operationalisation of planning and service delivery mechanisms for states; enhancing the capacity of state legislative assemblies for effective legislative oversight and law making; and strengthening the capacity of states in urban management.

Objectives
The project’s objective is to improve the institutional capacity of local government to adequately plan, set priorities, manage revenue and expenditure and deliver basic services in an equitable manner.

Outputs
• Policy frameworks/strategies for supporting decentralized governance formulated
• Enhanced state capacity in planning, budgeting and public financial management
• Enhanced capacity of state assemblies for law making and oversight functions.
• Enhanced state capacity in urban management and rehabilitation of state physical infrastructure.

Snapshots of the project's major achievements
• Facilitated the establishment of a States Coordination Desk in the Ministry of Presidential Affairs (MoPA)
• Supported the MoPA in formulating TORs for a high level GoSS Policy Task Force for coordinating GoSS support to states, and developed separate TOR for consultants to support the work of the Task Force.
• Facilitated and technically backstopped the organization and management of two Governors Fora in 2006 and assisted the GoSS in producing reports from the two Fora.