Decentralization and Local Governance in Asia and the Pacific

Civil Service Management in a Decentralized Context

The focus on achieving the MDGs and eradicating poverty has intensified the debate on the capacity for service delivery at the local levels. Much of the work focusing on developing local capacity (individual, institutional and systemic) has not addressed the challenge of providing the right incentives for staff to serve in local governments/administrations. Evidence shows that it is often not possible to attract competent staff leaving posts vacant for extended periods, especially in remote and conflict-afflicted areas where the services are most needed. The challenge is most serious when services are unavailable to the poor people and to those in the remote areas.  Finding the right incentives and career opportunities for staff that are willing to work at the local levels remains to be a critical issue that requires that a range of structural and institutional factors are addressed.

A Comparative Regional Study on Incentives and Career Management of the Senior Civil Service in a Decentralized Context is a currently undertaken study which analyses contemporary systems in Asia used for managing staff in local governments/administrations and aims to extract lessons learned that can guide policy development on providing incentives and career opportunities for staff to serve in local government administrations. The study will pay particular attention to practices and policies for ensuring representation for women, indigenous peoples and disadvantaged groups in local government/administration. (for more...)